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surgeon general
noun
plural surgeons general
: the chief medical officer of a branch of the armed services or of a public health service
Examples of surgeon general in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The dire situation prompted Dr. Vivek Murthy, then the U.S. surgeon general, to declare last year that social isolation and loneliness are a pressing health epidemic, on a par with smoking or obesity in terms of its detrimental effects.
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John Hewko, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Over the next few weeks, a new surgeon general will be confirmed, but the office will continue to carry the same weight.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Just over 11% of Americans smoke cigarettes, down from over 40% of U.S. adults in the mid-1960s, when the surgeon general issued an advisory about the dangers of smoking.
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Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
The surgeon general’s warning comes at a time when the alcohol industry is struggling.
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Julie Creswell, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1706, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near surgeon general
Cite this Entry
“Surgeon general.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surgeon%20general. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
surgeon general
noun
plural surgeons general
: the chief medical officer of a branch of the armed services or of a public health service
Medical Definition
surgeon general
noun
plural surgeons general
: the chief medical officer of a branch of the armed services or of a public health service
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