Lieutenant Meaning
/lɛfˈtɛn.ənt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe lowest junior commissioned officer rank(s) in many military forces, often Army and Marines.
nounThe lowest junior commissioned officer rank(s) in many military forces, often Army and Marines., In the US Army, Air Force and Marines, holding the rank above second lieutenant and below captain. Both ranks may be referred to as "lieutenant" or as the complete forms of the ranks.
Sentence Examples
He was demoted to the rank of lieutenant.
Lieutenant Worf is a Klingon who serves as an officer aboard the Federation starship Enterprise.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ officer followed the captain's orders to lead the platoon during the mission.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young ____ led his platoon with great courage during the difficult training exercise in the woods today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English lieutenant, lieftenaunt, from Anglo-Norman lieutenant, lyutenaunt, leu tenant, leu tenaunt (“deputy, lieutenant”), from Old French lieu (“place”) + tenant (“holder”). Doublet of locum tenens and stadtholder.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Mr. Scott immediately asked someone at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Wash., to get Mr. Nadella, the chief executive, out of a meeting he was having with top lieutenants."
— 2023 December 9, Tripp Mickle, Cade Metz, Mike Isaac, Karen Weise, “Inside OpenAI’s Crisis Over the Future of Artificial Intelligence”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ officer followed the captain's orders to lead the platoon during the mission.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young ____ led his platoon with great courage during the difficult training exercise in the woods today.