Word
lieutenant
Phoneticslieu·tenant
US/ɫuˈtɛnənt/
UK/lɛftˈɛnənt/
Definitions
01military/police rank
n. a middle-level officer in the army, navy, air force, or police.
n. a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces or police, typically positioned below a captain or commander.
“The lieutenant ordered the soldiers to prepare for the morning exercise.”
“After three years of distinguished service as a second lieutenant, she was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant during the ceremony.”
Usage
In the British Army, it is often pronounced 'lef-tenant', while in American English it is 'loo-tenant'.
Synonyms
02trusted assistant
n. a person who helps a leader and carries out their orders.
n. a trusted assistant or subordinate who manages or executes the plans of a more senior person.
“The CEO sent his top lieutenant to handle the negotiations in London.”
“The mayor relied heavily on his political lieutenants to ensure the new policy was implemented across every city department.”
Formal
Teaching tip
This sense is often used in business or politics to describe a very loyal and powerful assistant.
Synonyms
03junior rank modifier
adj. used in a title to show that an officer is just below a certain rank.
adj. a modifier used in military titles to indicate a grade immediately junior to the rank it modifies.
“The lieutenant colonel is in charge of the entire battalion.”
“The promotion from major to lieutenant colonel represents a significant shift in responsibility within the regimental structure.”
Technical
Real-World Examples
“Escapees ambushed and killed a fourth man, Lieutenant Harry Doncaster , later that day.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/lieutenant