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Lieutenant vs Captain - What's the difference?

lieutenant | captain |

As nouns the difference between lieutenant and captain

is that lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer rank or ranks in many military forces while captain is a chief or leader.

As an adjective lieutenant

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

As a verb captain is

to act as captain.

lieutenant

English

Alternative forms

* (all obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (military) The lowest commissioned officer rank or ranks in many military forces.
  • # (military, US) In the US Army, Air Force and Marines, second lieutenant is the rank below first lieutenant, which is below captain. Both ranks may be referred to as Lieutenant or as the complete forms of the ranks.
  • # (military, US, navy) 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.
  • # (military, US) 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.
  • # (military, British) A naval officer in the Royal Navy who holds the rank above sub-lieutenant and below lieutenant commander.
  • # (military, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) A naval officer who holds the rank above sub-lieutenant and below lieutenant commander.
  • A person who executes the plans and directives of another.
  • Synonyms

    * (military) , lieut , Lieut (abbreviation)

    Usage notes

    When used as a title, it is always capitalized. * Example: Lieutenant Anne Ward. The rank of lieutenant corresponds to pay grade O-3 in the US Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration.

    Derived terms

    * first lieutenant * second lieutenant * third lieutenant * fourth lieutenant * fifth lieutenant * junior lieutenant * senior lieutenant * lieutenant commander * lieutenant captain * lieutenant colonel * lieutenant general * lieutenant admiral * lieutenant marshal * lieutenant senior grade * lieutenant junior grade * bevret lieutenant * captain lieutenant * desk lieutenant * flag lieutenant * shift lieutenant * staff lieutenant * sublieutenant

    See also

    * subaltern

    Adjective

    (-)
  • A military grade that is junior to the grade the adjective modifies: lieutenant colonel'', ''lieutenant general'', ''lieutenant commander .
  • captain

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A chief or leader.
  • *1526 , The (Bible) , tr. (William Tyndale), (w) 2:
  • *:For out of the shal come a captaine , whych shall govern my people israhel.
  • *1929 , (Rudyard Kipling), " The English Way":
  • *:Stand up-stand up, Northumberland! / I bid you answer true, / If England's King has under his hand / A Captain as good as you?
  • The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
  • :
  • An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.
  • *
  • *:"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain , as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.."
  • A naval officer with a rank between commander and commodore.
  • A commissioned officer in the United States Navy, Coast Guard]], NOAA Corps, or PHS Corps of a grade superior to a commander and junior to a . A captain is equal in grade or rank to an Army, Marine Corps, or [[United States Air Force, Air Force colonel.
  • (senseid)One of the athletes on a sports team who designated to make decisions, and is allowed to speak for his team with a referee or official.
  • *(Remember the Titans)
  • *:Captain's supposed to be the leader, right?
  • *{{quote-news, year=2012, date=May 5, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool , passage=As Di Matteo celebrated and captain John Terry raised the trophy for the fourth time, the Italian increased his claims to become the permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas by landing a trophy.}}
  • The leader of a group of workers.
  • :
  • A .
  • *1977 , Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey, lyricists, ,
  • *:So I called up the Captain , "Please bring me my wine." / He said: "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969."
  • (lb) An honorific title given to a prominent person. See colonel .
  • Synonyms

    * (leader of a group of workers) supervisor, straw boss, foreman * (commander of a vessel) skipper, master * (pilot in command) pilot, pilot in command * (military rank) CAPT, , Capt, CPT (abbreviation)

    Derived terms

    * bell captain * captain of the fleet * captain of industry * corvette captain * cruiser captain * flag captain * fleet captain * flotilla captain * frigate captain * senior captain

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To act as captain
  • To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.