first lieutenant

American  

noun

Military.

1. an officer ranking next above second lieutenant and next below a captain.

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first lieutenant British  

noun

1. the officer responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of a warship, esp the executive officer of a smaller ship in the Royal Navy

2. an officer holding commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or in certain other forces, senior to a second lieutenant and junior to a captain

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Etymology

Origin of first lieutenant

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

They include a letter from Marie Dubosc to her husband, the ship's first lieutenant, Louis Chambrelan.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2023

“I felt stupid the way I walk around and stumble,” said Kalfon, who led a medical aid unit as a first lieutenant in 1964-65.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 10, 2023

Al-Kinani identified himself as a police officer with the rank of first lieutenant in the video aired on state media in 2021.

From Washington Times • May 7, 2023

He volunteered for two years in the Army’s Chaplain Corps at Fort Sill, Okla., where he became a first lieutenant.

From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2023

By June, William was a first lieutenant with the Army’s military intelligence unit.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield