enlisted

1 of 2

adjective

en·​list·​ed in-ˈli-stəd 
en-
Synonyms of enlisted
: of, relating to, or constituting the part of a military, naval, or air force below commissioned or warrant officers
enlisted personnel
the enlisted ranks

enlisted

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of enlist

Examples of enlisted in a Sentence

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Adjective
Carl Schuster, who served three tours on the Lincoln’s sister ship, the USS Nimitz, in the late 1970s and 1980s, said life aboard can be isolating, especially for enlisted crew who work deep inside the 100,000-ton carriers. — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, military officers, enlisted staff, and several American civilians were left on a plane that was deemed too dangerous for the president. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026 Enlisted ranks There is significantly more variation in the insignia for enlisted ranks across the service branches. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026 Henry Selick adapted Coraline by Neil Gaiman and enlisted voice performances from greats like Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, plus music by They Might Be Giants, to tell this crafty, Grimm-esque fairy tale about alternate worlds. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for enlisted

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1724, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enlisted was in 1724

Phrases Containing enlisted

Rhymes for enlisted

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Browse Nearby Words

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enlisted
enlisted man
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Cite this Entry

“Enlisted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlisted. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

enlisted

adjective
en·​list·​ed in-ˈlis-təd 
: of, relating to, or forming the part of a military or naval force in the ranks below commissioned or warrant officers

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