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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
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1918, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of private first class was
in 1918
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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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