What does brigadier mean?
A brigadier is a senior commissioned officer in an army, holding a rank above colonel and below major general. The term is used across most British-influenced militaries, where a brigadier typically commands a brigade — a formation of several thousand soldiers. In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the corresponding one-star rank is titled brigadier general, making it the lowest of the general officer grades. The word carries connotations of authority, discipline, and battlefield leadership, and it appears frequently in both historical accounts of campaigns and contemporary military reporting. Outside strictly military contexts, the term occasionally surfaces in figurative or humorous use to describe someone who takes charge with brisk, commanding confidence. Derived from the French brigade, which itself traces back through Italian briga (meaning strife or contention), the word entered English in the seventeenth century as European army organization formalized. Its abbreviations, Brig. and Brigr., appear in official documents and service records.
nounA rank of commissioned officer in the British Army and many other armies, above colonel and below major general; also, in the US Army, the lowest general officer rank (brigadier general).
- A one-star military officer ranking above a colonel and below a major general (British usage: simply "brigadier"; US usage: "brigadier general").
- (Historical/other) A head or overseer in certain contexts, such as a prison trustee or work leader — rare and largely obsolete.
"The brigadier inspected the troops before they departed for the border."
"The brigadier addressed the regiment at dawn before the long march north."
"She was promoted to brigadier general after two decades of distinguished service."
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple officers of this rank.
"Two brigadiers were decorated for their leadership during the campaign."
A brigadier commands a brigade of thousands — but in Britain, unlike America, the title needs no word like "general" after it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brigadier
"Brigadier" comes from French brigadier, meaning the commander of a brigade, derived from brigade, which entered French from Italian briga (strife, quarrel) — a root it shares with brigand and brigantine. English adopted the term in the late 17th century alongside the growing formalization of European military ranks. Its cognates therefore include other words for soldiers-of-fortune and fighting units drawn from that same Italian root.
How brigadier is actually used
In British and Commonwealth armies, "brigadier" is a field officer rank above colonel, not technically a general officer. In the US Army, Air Force, and Marines, the equivalent one-star rank is always "brigadier general." The abbreviation is Brig.
Easily confused with brigadier
"Brigadier" is the British-style one-star rank on its own, while "brigadier general" is the equivalent US Army and Marine Corps rank.