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Definition of colonel

colonel

/ˈkɜːr.nəl/
col · o · nel
Plural:colonels
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colonel Lexical Profile

colonel Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A senior commissioned military officer in an army, air force, or marine corps who typically commands a regiment or brigade, ranking immediately above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general or brigadier.

Example

"The retired colonel wrote a comprehensive historical account of logistics and leadership during the twentieth century."

2

American An honorary title conferred by certain southern and midwestern US states to recognize distinguished civic achievement or public service.

Example

"The governor appointed her an honorary Kentucky colonel in recognition of her decades of philanthropic work."

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse with its exact homophone 'kernel' (the inner part of a nut or seed). Despite its spelling with an 'l', 'colonel' is always pronounced with an 'r' sound (/ˈkɜːrnəl/).

• Rhymes for colonel

• Nearby Words

colombian
colombo
colon
colonel
colonelcy
colonial
colonial creek

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Middle French 'coronel', which was modified from the Italian 'colonnello' (the commander of a column of soldiers, from 'colonna', meaning 'column'). English eventually adopted the etymological spelling with 'l' from Italian while retaining the earlier French pronunciation with 'r'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Colonel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/colonel
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