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

The LNG shipowner has repeatedly told the crew to cross the strait, the seafarer said, but the captain and other crew members have all refused.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

They later laid siege to the Exeter tryline for several minutes and were repelled time and again by the disciplined Chiefs' defence, only for returning Munster captain Tadhg Beirne to finally break through to score.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

When a British vessel threatened the ship that carried it, however, the captain threw the document overboard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

How do Man City replace captain Silva if he leaves?

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The captain didn’t care about Nim and Jack; but he was afraid of sea lions and dragons and boat-ripping reefs.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

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