Meaning & use
Lieutenant
Last updated
A military officer ranking below a captain, or a deputy who acts on behalf of a superior.
See it in a sentence
The lieutenant briefed the platoon before the dawn patrol.
As his lieutenant, she handled operations whenever the director was traveling.
A note on using this word
From French 'lieu tenant,' literally 'place holder,' reflecting the officer's role of standing in for a higher authority.
Words with a similar meaning
deputysecond-in-command
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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