Meaning

A commissioned officer in an armed military organization, typically the highest rank before flag officer ranks (generals). It is generally found in armies, air forces or naval infantry (marines)..

Definitions by Sense

1. A commissioned officer in an armed military organization, typically the highest rank before flag officer ranks (generals). It is generally found in armies, air forces or naval infantry (marines).
2. (historical) A military leader, distinct from the modern professional military rank.
3. An honorary civilian title bestowed by some southern US states, most commonly Kentucky; notably Colonel Sanders of KFC.
4. (Southern US, dated) An informal title used to address an elderly man.
5. (US) A form of address for an auctioneer, from the American Civil War practice of commanding officers organizing the public sale of seized goods.
6. (intransitive) To act as or like a colonel.

Example Sentences

The colonel and his sponsor made a queer contrast: Greystone long and stringy, with a face that seemed as if a cold wind was eternally playing on it. […] But there was not a more lascivious reprobate and gourmand in all London than this same Greystone.

General Charles-Maximilian Fiennes was made colonel of the army.

"Colonel" was often used as an honorific, indicating no actual military service: between 1792 and 1916, according to Ron Bryant, a curator at the Kentucky Historical Society, 400 of the 650 colonels commissioned were honorary.

Then did Sir Knight abandon dwelling, And out he rode Colonelling.

Word Forms

• colonels
• coronel
• col.
• Col.
• coloneling
• colonelling
• coloneled
• colonelled

Related Words

When Should You Use Colonel?

Use colonel when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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