In military & defence, non-commissioned officer (NCO) means: A soldier with a position of authority, such as a corporal or sergeant, who has risen through the ranks but does not hold an officer's commission.
In Turkish: astsubay, erbaş
How it is used
Usually shortened to NCO. NCOs supervise daily work, training and discipline, and are often called the backbone of an army. Senior NCO ranks and titles differ from country to country.
Example sentences
The non-commissioned officer checked every soldier's kit before the march.
Experienced non-commissioned officers run most of the day-to-day training in the unit.
Common collocations
senior NCO
junior NCO
NCO course
become an NCO
Related terms
officerA member of the armed forces who holds a commission, has authority over others and is trained to lead units and plan operations.
sergeantA non-commissioned officer rank above corporal; a sergeant leads a small group of soldiers and makes sure standards and discipline are kept.
rankA person's official level in the military hierarchy, shown on the uniform, which decides their authority, duties and pay.
privateThe lowest rank in an army, held by a soldier who has finished basic training and does not command other soldiers.
