lieutenant

noun

lieu·​ten·​ant lü-ˈte-nənt 

 British  le(f)-

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

Synonyms

• assistant
• adjutant
• aide
• deputy
• apprentice
• aid

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

During his time as sheriff, Martinez has continued to hold the rank of lieutenant and successfully completed 24-hours of in-service training to maintain his certification under state law, Kopack said. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025

The new facility will be staffed by 83 people, including Commander Carlos Lara, three lieutenants, 17 sergeants and an administrative assistant, Aaron said. —Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 31 July 2025

But even though the latest Ash Street project is a huge and expensive commitment, Mayor Todd Gloria and his lieutenants have not taken advantage of best-practices recommendations made by the San Diego city auditor after a parade of flawed real estate deals. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2025

As for Sheridan, with Paramount Global co-CEO Chris McCarthy, who oversees MTV Entertainment Studios, set to depart, one of his top lieutenants, Keith Cox, who already works closely with the prolific creator, could become his point executive. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lieutenant

• first lieutenant
• flight lieutenant
• lieutenant colonel
• lieutenant commander
• lieutenant general
• lieutenant governor
• lieutenant junior grade
• second lieutenant

Rhymes for lieutenant

• cotenant
• subtenant
• pennant
• tenant

Kids Definition

lieutenant

noun

lieu·​ten·​ant lü-ˈten-ənt 

1

: an official who acts for a higher official

2

a

: first lieutenant

b

: second lieutenant

c

: a naval commissioned officer with a rank just below that of lieutenant commander

d

: a fire or police department officer ranking below a captain

Etymology

Middle English lieutenant "lieutenant," from early French lieutenant (same meaning), literally, "one holding the place for another," from lieu "place, position" and tenant "holding"

Word Origin

The phrase in lieu of means the same thing as in place of or instead of. The word lieu came into English from early French, in which it meant "place, position, function." Another English word that came from early French is tenant. In early French, this word was an adjective meaning "holding." Joined together, these two words gave the early French word lieutenant. It originally meant "a person holding another person's place" or "a person acting in place of another." In English, lieutenant is best known as a military title, but the word is still sometimes used in its original meaning to refer to a person who acts in lieu of someone else.