captain

American  

[kap-tuhn, -tin] / ˈkæp tən, -tɪn /

noun

1. a person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader.

2. an officer ranking in most armies above a first lieutenant and below a major.

3. an officer in the U.S. Navy ranking above a commander and below a rear admiral or a commodore.

4. a military leader.

5. an officer in the police department, ranking above a lieutenant and usually below an inspector.

6. an officer of the fire department, usually in command of a company, ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief or assistant chief.

7. the commander of a merchant vessel.

8. the pilot of an airplane.

9. a local official in a political party responsible for organizing votes on a ward or precinct level.

10. Sports. the field leader of a team.

    The captain of the home team elected to receive on the kickoff.

11. a person of great power and influence, especially based on economic wealth.

12. headwaiter.

13. bell captain.

14. South Midland and Southern U.S. an unofficial title of respect for a man (sometimes used humorously or ironically).

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verb (used with object)

1. to lead or command as a captain.

captain British  

/ ˈkæptɪn /

noun

1. the person in charge of and responsible for a vessel

2. an officer of the navy who holds a rank junior to a rear admiral but senior to a commander

3. an officer of the army, certain air forces, and the marine corps who holds a rank junior to a major but senior to a lieutenant

4. the officer in command of a civil aircraft, usually the senior pilot

5. the leader of a team in games

6. a person in command over a group, organization, etc; leader

   a captain of industry

7. a police officer in charge of a precinct

8. (formerly) a head waiter

9. Also called: bell captain.  a supervisor of bellboys in a hotel

10. informal a person who is buying drinks for people in a bar

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verb

1. (tr) to be captain of

Other Word Forms

• captaincy noun
• subcaptain noun
• uncaptained adjective
• undercaptain noun

Etymology

Origin of captain

1325–75; Middle English capitain < Anglo-French capitain, captayn < Late Latin capitāneus chief, equivalent to capit- (stem of caput ) head + -ān ( us ) -an + -eus -eous

Example Sentences

India Test captain Shubman Gill also hit 70 from 45 balls and all-rounder Washington Sundar 55 from 32.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

"The ceasefire definitely soothes our nerves, hoping it stays this way. The crew is finally taking a breather," an off-duty captain of a ship, whose crew is stranded off Qatar, told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

He also turned down the role of United States Ryder Cup captain in 2027.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Neither the flight crew nor the captain acknowledged the missile threats.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

A mixed-race woman born in 1735, Betty was the daughter of an enslaved African woman whose name is not known for certain and a white ship’s captain named Hemings.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• boss
• commander
• director
• executive
• leader
• officer
• operator
• owner
• pilot
• skipper