French word

brigadier

Pronunciation

IPA/bʁigadje/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncorporal

Example

On a promu le brigadier hier.

The corporal was promoted yesterday.

Illustration for brigadier (corporal)

More examples

Le brigadier a dirigé la patrouille ce matin.

The corporal led the patrol this morning.

Core concept

A lower-ranking officer marked by insignia and placed over a compact team.

Common phrases

  • le brigadier de police

    police corporal

  • être promu brigadier

    be promoted to corporal

Similar words

sergent: A noncommissioned officer who may command a small unit or squad.
caporal: A junior noncommissioned officer who gives direct instructions and keeps a team organized.
sous-officier: A military or police officer classified among the noncommissioned ranks.

Definition in French

Désigne un sous-officier responsable d'une petite équipe, employé surtout dans la gendarmerie et certains services de police.

Word origin

The word comes from Italian brigadiere, related to brigata, meaning a group or unit, and acquired the sense of its leader.

Usage tips

  • Brigadier-chef is a higher French rank than brigadier, so the hyphenated form signals a different grade.

Related words

  • brigadier-chefsenior corporalnoun
  • brigadièrefemale corporalnoun

Word lists with this word