Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sentry

/ˈsɛn.tɹi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.08 in modern English

Syllables
sen-try
IPA
/ˈsɛn.tɹi/
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A guard, particularly on duty at the entrance to a military base.

noun

Sentry duty; time spent being a sentry.

Uncountable

noun

A form of drag to be towed underwater, which on striking bottom is upset and rises to the surface.

noun

A watchtower.

noun

An animal like a marmot tasked with alerting the pack to danger.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From earlier sentrie, sentery, of uncertain origin. Perhaps an alteration of sentinel or sanctuary; or perhaps from Old French senteret (“a path”), diminutive of sentier, from Medieval Latin semitarius (“a path”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Military.

Inflected Forms

sentries (plural) centry (alternative, obsolete) sentri (alternative, obsolete) sentery (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

outsentry sentried

Phrases

sentry-box sentry-go sentry post stand sentry

Frequently Paired Words

sentinel

Synonyms

kite lookout sentinel watch spotter scout picket

Homonyms

century (for some speakers)

Rhymes With

entry elementary complementary gentry complimentary uncomplimentary

Questions

How do you pronounce sentry?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɛn.tɹi/.
What does sentry mean?
A guard, particularly on duty at the entrance to a military base.
Where does sentry come from?
It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce sentry

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “sentry”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsɛn.tɹi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “sentry”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “sentry” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.