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)

captains, present (3rd person singular) captained, past participle, past captaining present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has captained
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have captained
  perfect
• have been captaining
  perfect progressive
• are captaining
  progressive
• has been captaining
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am captaining
  progressive 1st person singular
• captains
  singular 3rd person
• captaining
  participle
• is captaining
  progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had captained
  perfect
• were captaining
  progressive plural
• had been captaining
  perfect progressive
• was captaining
  progressive singular
• captained
  participle
• captained
  simple

Future

• will captain
  simple
• will have captained
  perfect
• will have been captaining
  perfect progressive
• will be captaining
  progressive

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

Explanation

A captain is the person in charge of a group. The captain of a high school soccer team is usually an elected or appointed leader. The word captain can describe any leader, but it's traditionally been the name for the person on a boat or ship with the highest rank. The captain of a fishing boat is responsible for making decisions about what route to take and how best to avoid bad weather. When she steers the boat, you can say she captains it. The word comes from the Late Latin capitaneus, "chief," from caput, or "head."

Example Sentences

And his absence will be felt since Davies, sidelined since May 6 with a hamstring injury, is not only the team’s best player but also its captain.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Defender Morgan appears to have cemented her place as England's centre-back partner to captain Leah Williamson when she returns from injury.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Still, it’s fallen on Ream, as both the captain and the oldest man on the roster, to prepare the team for what they’re about to experience when the U.S. opens play Friday at SoFi Stadium.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Now, Test captain Ben Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson spent the early hours of Monday morning involved in an incident with a Saracens academy player in a London nightclub.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

It was too big to weave its way through the reef, so Jack and Nim always sailed out to meet it, and the ship’s captain never saw just how beautiful the island was.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

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