drum major

noun

: the leader of a marching band

Examples of drum major in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Before joining the Army in 2019, Moffett had served as the drum major in her high school marching band and participated in a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. Tim Craig, Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2024 Julianna Farquharson from Conard High School spoke on King’s sermon about the drum major instinct that guides individuals in their desires and motivations to be the best. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2024 As in: If the State Fair were a high school, these 10 finalists are the class president, the homecoming kings and queens, the drum majors, the stars of the football team and the leads in the high school musical. Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 9 Aug. 2023 Making Morgan State history, he’s also named four drum majors this year, one of whom is Morgan State’s first-ever female drum major, Angel Mitchell. Sabrina Leboeuf, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2022 The drum major and French horn player helped lead the Anna High School marching band to the state finals in November 2021, the farthest the team had ever advanced. Marin Wolf, Dallas News, 12 June 2023 That initial group of 16 Italian musicians who arrived from Catania in 1805 largely left the service before their three-year contacts were up (though future Marine Band leader, fife and drum major Venerando Pulizzi, was among their ranks). Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2023 The two were high school sweethearts and the drum major and majorette in the school’s marching band. Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2023 If so, Krukow was the drum major. Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, 7 June 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drum major.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drum major was in 1807

Dictionary Entries Near drum major

Cite this Entry

“Drum major.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drum%20major. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

drum major

noun
: the leader of a marching band
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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