lieutenant

lieu·ten·ant | \ lü-ˈte-nənt

How to pronounce lieutenant (audio)

, British le(f)- \

Definition of lieutenant

1a : 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.

2a(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 on the Web Washington was assistant chief in Milwaukee from 2010-19, and previously served as battalion chief, fire captain, lieutenant and firefighter. — Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Menomonee Falls' new fire chief Gerard Washington says the department is 'a gem'," 25 June 2020 The wardens at Angola did not follow suit, even though inmates said many were falling ill and a guard lieutenant had died from the virus in late March. — Tim Golden, ProPublica, "Inside the U.S.’s Largest Maximum-Security Prison, COVID-19 Raged. Outside, Officials Called Their Fight a Success.," 24 June 2020 But unlike the four officers involved in Mr. Floyd’s death, the patrolman who killed Tycel Nelson neither faced criminal charges nor lost his job, ascending to the rank of lieutenant over the ensuing two decades. — Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, "Will Minneapolis become the Selma of the North?," 11 June 2020 Jake Reuver who was elevated to the rank of lieutenant, denied Vasquez’s claims. — Jeff Forward, Houston Chronicle, "Shenandoah staff repaid about $70,000 in tuition reimbursement program," 10 June 2020 This lawsuit was filed the same day Portland Police Chief Jami Resch stepped down from her position and asked Chuck Lovell, an African American lieutenant, to replace her. — oregonlive, "Couple sues city of Portland after being exposed to tear gas during protests," 9 June 2020 An African American lieutenant on the force replaced her. — Allie Morris, Dallas News, "Thousands mourn George Floyd in Texas amid calls for reform," 9 June 2020 The police chief in Portland, Oregon, resigned Monday and asked an African American lieutenant to fill the position, CBS affiliate KOIN-TV reports. — Brian Dakss, CBS News, "Live updates: George Floyd memorials reach his hometown of Houston," 8 June 2020 The motion asked the court to allow officers at the rank of lieutenant to authorize the deployment of chemical agents or projectiles in response to specific acts of violence or destruction of property because of limitations in staffing. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN, "Temporary restraining order prohibits Denver Police from using chemical agents or projectiles against peaceful protesters without supervisor approval," 6 June 2020

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.

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Dictionary Entries near lieutenant

lieutenant colonel

lieutenant commander

lieutenant commissioner

Statistics for lieutenant

Last Updated

6 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Lieutenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lieutenant. Accessed 12 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for lieutenant

lieutenant

noun

English Language Learners Definition of lieutenant

: an officer in the army, navy, or air force with a fairly low rank

US : 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

See the full definition for lieutenant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

lieutenant

lieu·ten·ant | \ lü-ˈte-nənt

\

Kids Definition of lieutenant

1 : an official who acts for a higher official

2 : first lieutenant

3 : second lieutenant

4 : a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard ranking above a lieutenant junior grade

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