Definition
a military officer who ranks above a colonel and commands a brigade, or the rank itself.
Etymology
From French 'brigadier,' derived from 'brigade,' which came from Italian 'brigata' (company of soldiers). The word entered English military terminology in the 1600s during the reorganization of European armies.
Kelly Says
A brigadier commands a 'brigade,' which comes from the Italian 'brigata'—a bunch of soldiers who stick together, literally like people in a 'brigand' or gang! The military just formalized the idea of groups sticking together.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
Brigadier
Bri-ga-dee-er
ARالعربية
اللواء
al-li-wa
BNবাংলা
ব্রিগেডিয়ার
bri-ge-dee-ar
CACatalà
brigadier
bri-ga-dier
CSČeština
brigádní generál
bri-ga-d-ni ge-ne-ral
DADansk
brigadegeneral
bri-ga-de-ge-ne-ral
DEDeutsch
Brigadegeneral
bri-ga-de-ge-ne-ral
ELΕλληνικά
συνταγματάρχης
sin-ta-gma-ta-r-chis
ESEspañol
brigadier
bri-ga-dye-er
FISuomi
prikaatikenraali
pri-ka-a-ti-ken-ra-a-li
FRFrançais
brigadier
bri-ga-dyer
GUGU
બ્રિગેડીયર
bra-ge-dee-yar
HAHA
brigadier
bri-ga-dier
HEעברית
בריגדיר
bri-ga-dir
HIहिन्दी
ब्रिगेडियर
bri-ge-dee-ar
HUMagyar
brigádosztályos
bri-ga-do-s-ta-lyos
IDBahasa Indonesia
brigadir
bri-ga-dir
IGIG
brigadier
bri-ga-dier
ITItaliano
brigadiere
bri-ga-dee-re
MRMR
ब्रिगेडियर
bri-ge-dee-ar
MSBahasa Melayu
brigadir
bri-ga-dir
MYမြန်မာ
ဗိုလ်ချုပ်
bo-le-cho-up
NLNederlands
brigadier
bri-ga-dier
NONorsk
brigader
bri-ga-der
PAPA
ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ
bri-ga-dee-ar
PLPolski
brygadier
bry-ga-dier
PTPortuguês
brigadeiro
bri-ga-de-i-ro
RORomână
brigadier
bri-ga-dyer
RUРусский
бригадир
bri-ga-dir
SVSvenska
brigadier
bri-ga-dier
SWKiswahili
brigadier
bri-ga-dier
TAதமிழ்
படைத்தலைவர்
pa-dai-tha-lai-var
TEతెలుగు
బ్రిగేడియర్
bri-ge-di-yar
TLTL
brigadier
bri-ga-dyer
TRTürkçe
brigadier
bri-ga-dyer
UKУкраїнська
бригадир
bri-ga-dir
URاردو
بریگیڈیئر
bri-ga-dee-ar
VITiếng Việt
thiếu tướng
t-h-ieu-tuong
YOYO
brigadier
bri-ga-dier
ZUZU
brigadier
bri-ga-dier
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Military rank historically restricted to men. While increasingly gender-neutral in modern usage, the term carries institutional history of male-only advancement and authority.
Inclusive Usage
The word is fine as-is in contemporary military contexts. If referencing historical exclusions, note: 'women were not eligible for brigadier rank until [year].'
Empowerment Note
Women's integration into senior military ranks has been fought for globally; early female brigadiers (e.g., Wilma Vaught, 1985 US Air Force) broke institutional barriers.