Okuzeka
Military & Defence vocabulary · Ranks & Personnel

Rank

Meaning in military & defence, with examples

/ræŋk/nounCore term

In military & defence, rank means: A person's official level in the military hierarchy, shown on the uniform, which decides their authority, duties and pay.

In Turkish: rütbe

How it is used

You hold a rank, are promoted to a higher rank and wear rank insignia. NATO compares ranks across countries with codes: OF for officers and OR for other ranks. 'Pull rank' means using your seniority to get your way.

Example sentences

  1. Please write your rank, name and unit at the top of the form.

  2. The NATO codes help staff compare ranks from different national armies.

Common collocations

  • hold the rank of
  • rank insignia
  • senior rank
  • junior rank
  • pull rank
  • officerA member of the armed forces who holds a commission, has authority over others and is trained to lead units and plan operations.
  • non-commissioned officer (NCO)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.
  • promotionA move to a higher rank, usually based on time in service, performance reports, completed courses and available posts.
  • privateThe lowest rank in an army, held by a soldier who has finished basic training and does not command other soldiers.
  • generalAn officer of one of the highest ranks in an army or air force, who commands large formations or works at the top of the defence organisation.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Ranks & Personnel

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: