drill instructor

noun

The generic term for the principal instructor of fresh military recruits undergoing basic training in the various branches of the United States military, routinely abbreviated to the initialism DI; always filled by enlisted personnel (a sergeant or petty officer).

“Army: drill sergeant”

Similar
drill master
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Meanings

noundrill instructor (plural drill instructors)

plural drill instructors

  1. USgovernmentThe generic term for the principal instructor of fresh military recruits undergoing basic training in the various branches of the United States military, routinely abbreviated to the initialism DI; always filled by enlisted personnel (a sergeant or petty officer).

    Army: drill sergeant

    4 more examples

    Navy: recruit division commander

    Marine Corps: drill instructor

    Air Force: military training instructor

    Coast Guard: company commander

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna noncommissioned officer who instructs recruits in military marching and discipline

Similar
drill master
Broader
noncommissioned officernoncomenlisted officer

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

drill instructor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drill%20instructor

MLA

“drill instructor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drill%20instructor. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “drill instructor,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drill%20instructor.

Source: drill instructor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.