noun

colonel

KUR-nl

noun

A senior military officer rank, typically just below a general.

"The colonel briefed the troops before the mission."

"She was promoted to colonel after fifteen years of service."

How to Use Colonel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA high-ranking military officer, just under a general.

Common mistake

The spelling has an "l" but it's pronounced like "kernel" — a famous quirk caused by the word passing through French and Italian on its way into English.

Easily confused with

kernel →

Word Forms

coloneled past tense, colonelled past tense, colonels plural, Colonels plural, colonels singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The _____ briefed the troops before the mission.

Etymology

From Middle French coronnel, from Italian colonnello ("commander of a column of soldiers"), from Latin columna ("column, pillar"). The English spelling was later changed to match the Italian, but the older "r" pronunciation stuck, which is why "colonel" is pronounced like "kernel."

Rhymes for colonel

Lionel

See all rhymes for colonel →