# skipper

/ˈskɪpɝ/ (US) · /skˈɪpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/skipper
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. ship's master

noun · CEFR B2

the person in charge of a ship or boat.

For teachers: the master or captain of a vessel, particularly a small merchant or fishing boat.

- The skipper decided to head back to the harbour when the wind picked up.
- The experienced skipper navigated the narrow channel with ease, despite the heavy fog and rising tide.

Usage: Often used as a title or a direct form of address for the person in command.

### 2. sports captain

noun · CEFR B2

the captain or leader of a sports team.

For teachers: the captain of a sports team, especially in cricket, football, or rugby.

- The team skipper gave a short speech before the final match started.
- After the loss, the skipper faced the media to explain the team's tactical errors during the second half.

### 3. to lead a team or ship

verb · CEFR B2

to act as the captain of a ship or a sports team.

For teachers: to serve as the captain or master of a vessel or a competitive sports team.

- She was chosen to skipper the national team during the world championships.
- Having skippered several successful expeditions in the Arctic, he was the natural choice for the new research voyage.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

### 4. police officer

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal · Slang

a casual name for a police sergeant.

For teachers: a slang or informal term for a detective sergeant, frequently used as a form of address within the force.

- The constable turned to his boss and asked, 'What's the plan, skipper?'
- The detectives waited for the skipper to sign off on the warrant before proceeding with the search.

Teaching tip: This is very specific to British police culture and media; learners will mostly encounter it in crime dramas.

### 5. one who skips

noun · CEFR B1

a person who jumps over a rope or moves with small jumps.

For teachers: an agent noun referring to a person who performs the action of skipping, such as jumping rope.

- The fastest skipper in the class could jump a hundred times without stopping.
- As a competitive skipper, she practiced her footwork for hours every day to improve her speed and coordination.

### 6. type of butterfly

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small butterfly that flies very quickly in a darting way.

For teachers: any of various butterflies of the family Hesperiidae, characterized by a moth-like body and a rapid, darting flight pattern.

- A small brown skipper landed on the flower for just a second before darting away.
- The researcher noted the presence of several rare skipper species in the meadow, indicating a healthy local ecosystem.

## Examples

- The skipper steered the boat into the harbor.
- The cricket skipper chose to bat first after winning the coin toss.
- As the skipper of the small fishing vessel, he bore full responsibility for the crew's safety and the daily catch.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.