colonel

As nouns the difference between colonel and lieutenant

is that colonel is a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps. In U.S. military, it ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general while lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer rank or ranks in many military forces.

As an adjective lieutenant is

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

As nouns the difference between colonel and colonelship

is that colonel is a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps in us military, it ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general while colonelship is the status or rank of a colonel; colonelcy.