private first class

noun

: an enlisted man ranking in the army above a private and below a corporal and in the marine corps above a private and below a lance corporal

Examples of private first class 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.
Then came a shocking discovery, which relays the compelling story of Choi Byung-moon, who was a private first class in 1980 in the Chun Doo-hwan military junta in South Korea. Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2024 The article relays the compelling story of Choi Byung-moon, who was a private first class in 1980 in the Chun Doo-hwan military junta in South Korea. Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2024 After his speech, Mr. Biden briefly visited the grave of John S. Greenfield, from the president’s hometown, Wilmington, Del. Mr. Greenfield was a private first class in the Army’s 115th Infantry Regiment during World War II. Peter Baker, New York Times, 6 June 2024 Tate attained the rank of private first class before he was discharged. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 22 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for private first class 

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of private first class was in 1918

Dictionary Entries Near private first class

Cite this Entry

“Private first class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20first%20class. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

private first class

noun
: an enlisted person with a rank just below corporal in the army or just below lance corporal in the marines
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