lieutenant

lieu-ten-ant · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A commissioned military officer ranking below a captain.

  2. 2.

    A police officer ranking below a captain or inspector.

  3. 3.

    A person who acts as a deputy or substitute for a superior.

Forms

plural: lieutenants

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    lieutenant colonel — a military rank above major and below colonel
  • •
    lieutenant commander — a naval rank above lieutenant and below commander
  • •
    lieutenant governor — the second-highest executive in a state or province
  • •
    first lieutenant — a military rank above second lieutenant
  • •
    second lieutenant — the lowest commissioned officer rank

Related words

Antonyms: chief, commander, superior
See also: captain, colonel, military, officer
Synonyms: aide, deputy, second-in-command

Etymology

From Old French lieu tenant ("place holding"), from lieu ("place") + tenant ("holding"), present participle of tenir ("to hold"). The word literally means "one holding a place" or "placeholder" for a superior. The British pronunciation with /f/ preserves an older French pronunciation.