buck private
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A private soldier keen ("bucking") for promotion; an ambitious private.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Bedell Smith was a shopkeeper's son from Indiana who rose from buck private to general without the polish of West Point or a college degree.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “buck private” mean?
A private soldier keen ("bucking") for promotion; an ambitious private.
Is “buck private” formal or informal?
buck private is generally slang.