View synonyms for lieutenant

lieutenant

[ loo-ten-uhnt; in British use, except in the navy, lef-ten-uhnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Military.
1. first lieutenant.
2. second lieutenant.
U.S. Navy. a commissioned officer ranking between lieutenant junior grade and lieutenant commander.
a person who holds an office, civil or military, in subordination to a superior they act for:
If he can't attend, he will send his lieutenant.

lieutenant

/ luːˈtɛnənt; lɛfˈtɛnənt /

noun

a military officer holding commissioned rank immediately junior to a captain
a naval officer holding commissioned rank immediately junior to a lieutenant commander
an officer in a police or fire department ranking immediately junior to a captain
a person who holds an office in subordination to or in place of a superior

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Derived Forms

lieuˈtenancy, noun

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Other Words From

un·der·lieu·ten·ant noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of lieutenant¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English from Middle French, noun use of adjective phrase lieu tenant “place-holding”; locum tenens, lieu, tenant

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Word History and Origins

Origin of lieutenant¹

C14: from Old French, literally: place-holding

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