# marshal

/ˈmɑɹʃəɫ/ (US) · /mˈɑːʃəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to organize facts or ideas

verb · CEFR B2

to gather and organize your thoughts, facts, or arguments in a clear way.

For teachers: to arrange facts, arguments, or ideas in a methodical and persuasive order.

- She took a moment to marshal her thoughts before answering the difficult question.
- The lead prosecutor spent weeks attempting to marshal the evidence into a coherent narrative that the jury could easily follow.

Usage: Often used with abstract nouns like 'thoughts', 'arguments', or 'evidence'.

### 2. to arrange people

verb · CEFR B2

to bring a group of people together and put them in order for an event.

For teachers: to arrange a group of people, such as soldiers or protesters, into a specific order for a parade or inspection.

- The teachers tried to marshal the excited students into a straight line.
- The sergeant worked quickly to marshal the troops for the morning inspection before the general arrived.

Usage: Transitive; usually takes a collective noun or a plural noun as an object.

### 3. to convert data

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to change data into a format that can be sent easily between different parts of a computer system.

For teachers: To serialize an object into a sequence of bytes for transmission or storage, allowing it to be reconstructed later.

- The program needs to marshal the data before sending it over the network.
- The middleware layer is responsible for marshalling the complex data structures into a format compatible with the remote server's API.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of distributed systems and remote procedure calls.

### 4. a law officer

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a type of police officer or law official, especially in the United States.

For teachers: A federal or municipal law enforcement officer in the United States with various administrative or police duties.

- The federal marshal was responsible for transporting the prisoner to the courthouse.
- The deputy marshal served the warrant early in the morning to ensure the suspect was at home.

Usage: Often capitalized when used as a specific title (e.g., 'Marshal Smith').

### 5. an event official

noun · CEFR B1

a person who helps organize a large public event, like a parade or a race.

For teachers: An official responsible for the management, safety, and ceremonial arrangement of a public gathering or sporting event.

- The race marshals stood at every corner to make sure the runners went the right way.
- Volunteer marshals were deployed along the entire parade route to manage the crowds and ensure the safety of the participants.

### 6. military rank

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a very high-ranking officer in the army.

For teachers: A military officer of the highest rank, often equivalent to a five-star general.

- He was promoted to the rank of field marshal after his victory in the war.
- The grand strategy was devised by the marshal, who oversaw all military operations across the eastern front.

Usage: Often appears in the compound 'field marshal'.

## Examples

- The marshal led the parade through the city streets.
- The fire marshal inspected the building to ensure all safety exits were clear and functional.
- After years of distinguished service on the battlefield, he was promoted to the rank of field marshal, the highest honor in the military hierarchy.

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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.