Definition

A military rank that is higher than lieutenant colonel and lower than brigadier general, often held by an officer in the army, air force, or marine corps.

Example

The colonel led his troops into battle with great courage.

Conversation

Did you hear that our neighbor is a colonel in the army?

Really? I had no idea he held such a high rank.

Yeah, I think it’s pretty impressive!

Definitely! It must come with a lot of responsibility.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Colonel originates from the Italian word 'colonnello' (meaning the leader of a column of soldiers), which is derived from 'colonna' (meaning column). The term evolved through French as 'coronel' before settling into the English form 'colonel'.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'column' of soldiers, as 'colonel' refers to the leader of that column.

Visually Confused Words