# cadet

/kəˈdɛt/ (US) · /kɐdˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cadet
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. military/police trainee

noun · CEFR B2

a student at a military or police school who is training to become an officer.

For teachers: a student at a military academy or a trainee in a police force preparing for a commissioned rank.

- The young cadet stood at attention during the graduation ceremony at the academy.
- After completing four years of rigorous training, the cadet was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army.

### 2. professional trainee

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Dialect

a young person who is starting a job and learning the skills they need, often in journalism or law.

For teachers: a person undergoing a period of supervised training in a professional field, such as journalism or public service.

- She started her career as a cadet reporter for the local newspaper.
- The government announced a new intake of engineering cadets to address the shortage of skilled workers in the public sector.

Usage: Commonly used in Australia and New Zealand for entry-level professional roles.

### 3. younger son

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

a younger son in a family, especially one who will not inherit the family's land or money.

For teachers: a younger son or brother, particularly in the context of primogeniture where the eldest son inherits the estate.

- As a cadet of a noble family, he had to join the church to make his own way.
- The estate passed entirely to the eldest brother, leaving the cadets of the family to seek fortunes in the colonies or the military.

### 4. farming trainee

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Archaic

a young man learning how to run a large sheep or cattle farm.

For teachers: a young man gaining practical experience on a large sheep or cattle station.

- The city boy spent a year as a cadet on a remote sheep station to learn the trade.
- Historical records show that many young gentlemen arrived from England to serve as cadets on vast pastoral runs in the South Island.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to historical contexts in New Zealand and Australia.

## Examples

- The cadet saluted the general.
- Every cadet must complete basic training before joining the regular army.
- The young cadet stood at attention, his uniform crisp and his posture rigid, embodying the discipline expected of future leaders.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.