Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Lieutenant
Lieu-ten′ant
(lū̍-tĕn′ant)
, Noun.
[F., fr.
lieu
place + tenant
holding, p. pr. of tenir
to hold, L. tenere
. See Lieu
, and Tenant
, and cf. Locum tenens
.] 1.
An officer who supplies the place of a superior in his absence; a representative of, or substitute for, another in the performance of any duty.
The lawful magistrate, who is the vicegerent or
lieutenant
of God. Abp. Bramhall.
2.
(a)
A commissioned officer in the army, next below a captain.
(b)
A commissioned officer in the British navy, in rank next below a commander.
(c)
A commissioned officer in the United States navy, in rank next below a lieutenant commander.
☞ Lieutenant is often used, either adjectively or in hyphened compounds, to denote an officer, in rank next below another, especially when the duties of the higher officer may devolve upon the lower one; as, lieutenant general, or lieutenant-general; lieutenant colonel, or lieutenant-colonel; lieutenant governor, etc.
Deputy lieutenant
, the title of any one of the deputies or assistants of the lord lieutenant of a county.
[Eng.]
– Lieutenant colonel
, an army officer next in rank above major, and below colonel.
– Lieutenant commander
, an officer in the United States navy, in rank next below a commander and next above a lieutenant.
– Lieutenant general
. See in Vocabulary.
– Lieutenant governor
. (a)
An officer of a State, being next in rank to the governor, and in case of the death or resignation of the latter, himself acting as governor.
[U. S.]
(b)
A deputy governor acting as the chief civil officer of one of several colonies under a governor general.
[Eng.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Lieutenant
LIEUTENANT
,Noun.
1.
An officer who supplies the place of a superior in his absence. Officers of this kind are civil, as the lord-lieutenant of a kingdom or county; or military, as a lieutenant general, a lieutenant colonel.2.
In military affairs, the second commissioned officer in a company of infantry cavalry or artillery.3.
In ships of war, the officer next in rank to the captain.Definition 2024
Lieutenant
lieutenant
lieutenant
See also: Lieutenant
English
Alternative forms
- leftenant, leftenaunt, lieftenant, lieftenaunt, lieutenaunt (all obsolete)
Noun
lieutenant (plural lieutenants)
- (military) The lowest commissioned officer rank or ranks in many military forces.
- (military, US) In the US Army, Air Force and Marines, second lieutenant is the rank below first lieutenant, which is below captain. Both ranks may be referred to as Lieutenant or as the complete forms of the ranks.
- (military, US, navy) A naval officer whose rank is above that of ensign in the United States Navy and below that of a lieutenant commander. There are two ranks of lieutenant: lieutenant junior grade and lieutenant.
- (military, US) A commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard, Public Health Service, or National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration whose rank is above that of ensign and below lieutenant commander. There are two ranks of lieutenant: lieutenant junior grade and lieutenant.
- (military, Britain) A naval officer in the Royal Navy who holds the rank above sub-lieutenant and below lieutenant commander.
- (military, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) A naval officer who holds the rank above sub-lieutenant and below lieutenant commander.
- A person who executes the plans and directives of another.
Synonyms
Usage notes
When used as a title, it is always capitalized.
- Example: Lieutenant Anne Ward.
The rank of lieutenant corresponds to pay grade O-3 in the US Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration.
Derived terms
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Translations
lowest commissioned officer rank
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person who executes the plans and directives of another
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See also
Adjective
lieutenant (not comparable)
- A military grade that is junior to the grade the adjective modifies: lieutenant colonel, lieutenant general, lieutenant commander.
Translations
military grade
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Middle French
Noun
lieutenant m (plural lieutenants)
- lieutenant (person who executes the plans and directives of another)