brigadier

Brigadier is a military rank used in several armed forces around the world. In most Commonwealth armies, Brigadier is a one-star rank above Colonel and below Major-General. It commonly denotes an officer who commands a brigade or holds senior staff responsibilities at division level. In the United States and some other national forces, the closest equivalent is Brigadier General, a one-star general officer.

The term brigadier derives from the French word brigadier, originally meaning a commander of a brigade, with roots in the brigata of Italian military organization. The rank developed in various European armies from the early modern period and was adopted with differing scopes. In Britain, the title was historically "Brigadier-General" and was shortened to Brigadier in the 20th century; the position remains a one-star rank in modern usage.

Typical duties include commanding a brigade around 3,000–5,000 troops, or serving as a senior staff officer at a divisional or corps level. Brigadiers coordinate operations, training, logistics, and administration, and report to higher-ranking generals. Insignia vary by country; commonly a single star or crown-based symbol is used to denote a one-star rank in many armies.

Some armies maintain a rank structure where Brigadier is distinct from Brigadier General; others use Brigadier as equivalent to Brigadier General. In addition to its military sense, brigadier is also a surname and occasionally used as a ceremonial title in historical or fictional contexts.