major general

noun

: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps who ranks above a brigadier general and whose insignia is two stars

Examples of major general in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cameron later left his editorial post to enlist and by the end of the Civil War, rose to the rank of brevet major general. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026 The six suspects included a retired major general and a serving police inspector. — ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026 The toll includes five lieutenant generals, seven major generals and three former generals. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 The time trial world champion has long been seen as a major general classification threat and one of the most talented riders of his generation. — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for major general

Word History

Etymology

French major général, from major, noun + général, adjective, general

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of major general was in 1633

Browse Nearby Words

major form class
major general
major histocompatibility complex
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Cite this Entry

“Major general.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major%20general. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

major general

noun
: a military commissioned officer with a rank just below that of lieutenant general

More from Merriam-Webster on major general

Nglish: Translation of major general for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about major general

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