Definition of LIEUTENANT

lieutenant

Meanings

Plural: lieutenants

Noun

  • a commissioned military officer
  • an officer in a police force
  • an assistant with power to act when his superior is absent
  • an officer holding a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant commander and above lieutenant junior grade
  • The lowest junior commissioned officer rank(s) in many military forces, often Army and Marines.
  • In the US Army, Air Force and Marines, holding the rank above second lieutenant and below captain. Both ranks may be referred to as "lieutenant" or as the complete forms of the ranks.
  • The lowest junior commissioned officer rank(s) in many military forces, often Army and Marines.
  • 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.
  • The lowest junior commissioned officer rank(s) in many military forces, often Army and Marines.
  • 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.
  • The lowest junior commissioned officer rank(s) in many military forces, often Army and Marines.
  • A commissioned officer in the British Army and Royal Marines, holding the rank above second lieutenant and below captain. Both ranks may be referred to as "lieutenant"; however, "second lieutenant" is to specify that the officer is not yet a full lieutenant.
  • The lowest junior commissioned officer rank(s) in many military forces, often Army and Marines.
  • A naval officer whose rank is above that of sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy and below that of a lieutenant commander.
  • The lowest junior commissioned officer rank(s) in many military forces, often Army and Marines.
  • A naval Commissioned Officer who holds the rank above sub-lieutenant and below lieutenant commander.
  • A person who manages or executes the plans and directives of another, more senior person; a manager to their director.
  • The second-in-command (2IC) of a group.

Adj

  • A military grade that is junior to the grade the adjective modifies: lieutenant colonel, lieutenant general, lieutenant commander.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English lieutenant, lieftenaunt, from Anglo-Norman lieutenant, lyutenaunt, leu tenant, leu tenaunt (“deputy, lieutenant”), from Old French lieu (“place”) + tenant (“holder”). Doublet of locum tenens.

Synonyms

deputy, lieut, Lieut, Lieut., LT, Lt., police lieutenant

Scrabble Score: 10

lieutenant is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
lieutenant is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
lieutenant is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

lieutenant is a valid Words With Friends word