petty officer first class

noun

: an enlisted man in the navy or coast guard ranking above a petty officer second class and below a chief petty officer

Examples of petty officer 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.
Speed, a petty officer first class, is assigned to the Naval Warfare Space Field Activity at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, part of the U.S. intelligence community, according to court filings. — Salvador Rizzo, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Williams, a former Navy petty officer first class, called the sheriff’s office Nov. 6, 2019, and reported that her daughter, Taylor, was missing and that the back door to her home was unlocked, officials said. — NBC News, 5 Mar. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petty officer first class was in 1878

Rhymes for petty officer first class

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Browse Nearby Words

petty officer
petty officer first class
petty officer second class
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Cite this Entry

“Petty officer first class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petty%20officer%20first%20class. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

petty officer first class

noun
: a naval petty officer with a rank just below that of chief petty officer
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