What does colonel mean?
A colonel is a senior commissioned officer rank found in most armies, air forces, and marine corps, positioned above lieutenant colonel and below brigadier general in the American system or brigadier in the British system. Colonels typically command regiments, brigades, or large installations and serve as key staff officers at high headquarters. The word also appears in honorary contexts: some monarchies confer the ceremonial title of colonel-in-chief on members of royalty, and retired officers are often addressed by their former rank as a courtesy. Pronounced identically to 'kernel' in standard speech — a quirk born of borrowing the same Italian word along two different routes into English — the rank carries connotations of authority, discipline, and long service, and it features frequently in both military writing and fiction.
nounA colonel is a senior commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marines, ranking above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier or brigadier general.
- A senior commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marines, ranking above lieutenant colonel and below brigadier general (or brigadier).
- An honorary or ceremonial rank conferred on individuals as a title of honor rather than active military command.
"The colonel addressed his troops before they deployed overseas."
"After twenty years of service, Maria was promoted to full colonel and given command of the regiment."
"The retired colonel spent his mornings tending roses and telling stories about his years abroad."
Regular plural formation; used when referring to multiple holders of the rank or to a group of officers collectively.
"Three colonels were decorated for bravery during the campaign."
Colonel and 'kernel' sound exactly alike because English borrowed the same Italian word twice — once through French spelling and once directly — leaving one word spelled like 'colonial' but spoken like 'cornel'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of colonel
Colonel derives from the early 17th century, borrowed from French colonel, itself from Italian colonnello meaning 'column of soldiers,' a diminutive of colonna ('column'). The odd mismatch between its spelling (with an l where r would fit) and its pronunciation arose because English adopted the word twice — once from the older French form with r (coronel) and once from the newer French spelling with l — and eventually settled on the l-spelling while keeping the r-pronunciation. It shares its ultimate Latin root columna with words such as column and colonial.
Related word forms
How colonel is actually used
Colonel is a formal military rank used in both official and civilian contexts. In British usage, the rank below brigadier is simply colonel, while in US usage it sits below brigadier general. The abbreviation Col. is standard in addresses and signatures. As a courtesy title, 'Colonel' may be retained informally by retired officers.
Easily confused with colonel
Kernel is the edible seed of a grain, nut, or fruit or the central part of an operating system, whereas colonel is a military officer; despite their identical pronunciation in most dialects, their spellings and meanings are entirely unrelated.