lieutenant

noun lieu·ten·ant \ lü-ˈte-nənt , British le(f)- \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of lieutenant

1 a : an official empowered to act for a higher official

The king's lieutenant handled the problem.

b : an aide or representative of another in the performance of duty : assistant

Her best lieutenant was working on the proposal.

2 a (1) : first lieutenant

(2) : second lieutenant

b : a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard ranking above a lieutenant junior grade and below a lieutenant commander

c : a fire or police department officer ranking below a captain

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Examples of lieutenant in a Sentence

He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
She has her best lieutenants working on a proposal.
one of the mobster's most loyal lieutenants

Recent Examples of lieutenant from the Web

One of Roe’s top lieutenants, Aaron Baker, is working to stave off the push for impeachment in the statehouse as Greitens’ lobbyist.

— jason hancock, kansascity, "As one Greitens scandal goes to trial, here’s everything you need to know | The Kansas City Star," 11 May 2018
Days later, a lieutenant emailed the chief and other department staff to say the officers needed to face swift consequences.

— linda trischitta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Driver charged in teen passenger’s death after high-speed police chase," 7 May 2018
The fourth candidate, retired sheriff’s lieutenant Mitch Russell, has 41 years in law enforcement, 28 with the sheriff.

— john tuohy, Indianapolis Star, "Hamilton County sheriff's race gets 'toxic'," 4 May 2018
Araujo has been promoted through the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and colonel September 12, 2017.

— jose lambiet, miamiherald, "'Some kind of love triangle': Pair charged with brutal slaying of Miami woman | Miami Herald," 30 Apr. 2018
Second: Roseman was trusting his new lieutenants, player personnel director Joe Douglas and his assistant Andy Weidl – and the troika has hardly put a foot wrong since their alliance in May of 2016.

— marcus hayes, Philly.com, "Eagles' Howie Roseman made draft moves that should pay off like 2017's did | Marcus Hayes," 29 Apr. 2018
But nobody wanted to listen, especially his supervising lieutenant, who had been in charge of the original murder investigation.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Unlikely friendship led to Carlsbad man's exoneration after 38 years in prison," 28 Apr. 2018
Boehner challenged Roy Blunt, a Hastert and DeLay lieutenant, in a race for House majority leader, and Nunes proved himself to be a crucial vote wrangler in the effort.

— jason zengerle, New York Times, "How Devin Nunes Turned the House Intelligence Committee Inside Out," 24 Apr. 2018
After getting hired at the St. Francis Police Department, Dietrich rose through the ranks becoming a sergeant in May 1999, a lieutenant in June 2005, captain in October 2006, and finally chief in summer 2015.

— erik s. hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Retiring after 27 years, St. Francis Police Chief Thomas Dietrich compares getting job to 'winning the lottery'," 24 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lieutenant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lieutenant

Middle English, from Anglo-French lieu tenant, from liu + tenant holding, from tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre — more at thin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

lieutenant Synonyms

Synonyms

adjunct, adjutant, aid, aide, apprentice, assistant, coadjutor, deputy, helper, helpmate, helpmeet, sidekick;

Related Words

attendant, servant;

auxiliary, legman, subordinate, underling;

employee (also employe), hand, help, hireling, laborer, worker;

man Friday, right hand;

aide-de-camp;

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

LIEUTENANT Defined for English Language Learners

lieutenant

noun

Definition of lieutenant for English Language Learners

: an officer in the army, navy, or air force with a fairly low rank
: an officer in a fire or police department who has a rank below a captain
: an assistant to another, more powerful person : a person who represents and works for someone else