paper general UK /ˈpeɪpə ˈdʒɛn(ə)ɹəl/US /ˈpeɪpɚ ˈdʒɛnəɹəl/ noun1 •(Singapore, disapproving) A person who, upon completion of a government scholarship to study in a university, is promoted to a high rank in the military despite the lack of combat experience.To distract undue public scrutiny of the paper general, SAF officers – regular and otherwise -- were instructed to use their military rank before their names. — 2003 formspaper generals