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

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For two decades, Hoyer was the House Democratic caucus's second-in-command, behind House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi of California. Nikole Killion, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026 In the eyes of many Venezuelans, his endorsement of Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s second-in-command, was proof of his disregard for Venezuela’s democracy. Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026 In Venezuela, that is Maduro’s second-in-command, Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as interim president on Saturday. Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026 She was interviewed by the Justice Department’s second-in-command in July and was soon afterward moved from a federal prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas. Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for second-in-command

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“Second-in-command.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-in-command. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

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