✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

second-in-command

noun

: someone who is ranked second in a group or organization
the police chief's second-in-command

Examples of second-in-command in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The current situation is a year-old ceasefire with Israel, routinely broken by the Israeli military, including a drone strike in Beirut last week that killed the militant group Hezbollah's second-in-command. Jane Arraf, NPR, 29 Nov. 2025 As second-in-command, Abraham would be in a position to act as a key adviser on a variety of public health issues. Erika Edwards, NBC news, 25 Nov. 2025 Wartenberg served as the flight captain, Truitt was the first officer or second-in-command, and Diamond was the international relief officer or supplemental crew member in case the other pilots needed rest, according to a statement from UPS Executive Vice President Nando Cesarone. Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Nov. 2025 Lee Truitt served as first officer, or second-in-command of the flight. Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for second-in-command

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Second-in-command.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-in-command. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!