TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
MGEN [2 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2022-02-15
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Military Organization
- Land Forces
- Air Forces
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- major-general
1, record 1, English, major%2Dgeneral
correct, see observation, officially approved
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
- MGen 2, record 1, English, MGen
correct, see observation, officially approved
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[The] designation of rank used by an officer who wears an army or air force uniform and holds the rank of major-general. 3, record 1, English, - major%2Dgeneral
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Each element of a military rank is capitalized when used to address a person directly or to refer to a particular person. Each element of a rank abbreviation always takes an initial capital letter. Ranks used without a name should be written out in full. 4, record 1, English, - major%2Dgeneral
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
major-general; MGen: designations officially approved by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 4, record 1, English, - major%2Dgeneral
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 3 OBS
major-general; MGen: designations to be used by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 5, record 1, English, - major%2Dgeneral
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Organisation militaire
- Forces terrestres
- Forces aériennes
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- major-général
1, record 1, French, major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
- mgén 2, record 1, French, mg%C3%A9n
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- majore-générale 3, record 1, French, majore%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9rale
correct, see observation, feminine noun
- mgén 4, record 1, French, mg%C3%A9n
correct, see observation, feminine noun
- mgén 4, record 1, French, mg%C3%A9n
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[Désignation] de grade employée par un officier qui porte l'uniforme de l'armée ou de l'aviation et qui détient le grade de major-général. 5, record 1, French, - major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Les grades militaires s'écrivent avec la majuscule initiale lorsqu'ils sont employés pour s'adresser directement à une personne, qu'ils soient ou non accompagnés du nom de la personne. Les abréviations des grades s'écrivent avec la majuscule initiale lorsqu'elles accompagnent le nom d'une personne. Les grades non accompagnés d'un nom devraient s'écrire au long. 6, record 1, French, - major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
major-général; mgén : désignations uniformisées par le ministère de la Défense nationale et les Forces canadiennes. 6, record 1, French, - major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 3 OBS
major-général; majore-générale; mgén : désignations d'usage obligatoire au ministère de la Défense nationale et dans les Forces canadiennes. 7, record 1, French, - major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2017-09-07
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Military Ranks
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- major-general
1, record 2, English, major%2Dgeneral
correct, see observation, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
- Mgen 2, record 2, English, Mgen
correct, see observation, officially approved
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The rank of an officer below that of lieutenant-general and above that of brigadier-general. 3, record 2, English, - major%2Dgeneral
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Each element of a military rank is capitalized when used to address a person directly or to refer to a particular person. Each element of a rank abbreviation always takes an initial capital letter. Ranks used without a name should be written out in full. 4, record 2, English, - major%2Dgeneral
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
major-general; Mgen: designations officially approved by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 5, record 2, English, - major%2Dgeneral
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Grades militaires
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- major-général
1, record 2, French, major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
- mgén 2, record 2, French, mg%C3%A9n
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Grade d'un officier inférieur au grade de lieutenant-général et supérieur à celui de brigadier-général. 3, record 2, French, - major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Les grades militaires s'écrivent avec la majuscule initiale lorsqu'ils sont employés pour s'adresser directement à une personne, qu'ils soient ou non accompagnés du nom de la personne. Les abréviations des grades s'écrivent avec la majuscule initiale lorsqu'elles accompagnent le nom d'une personne. Les grades non accompagnés d'un nom devraient s'écrire au long. 4, record 2, French, - major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Grade faisant à la fois partie de la liste des grades actuels en usage depuis l'unification des Forces canadiennes en 1968 et de la liste des anciens grades de l'Armée de terre. 5, record 2, French, - major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 3 OBS
major-général; mgén : désignations uniformisées par le ministère de la Défense nationale et les Forces canadiennes. 4, record 2, French, - major%2Dg%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: