lieutenant colonel

American  

noun

U.S. Military.

1. a commissioned officer ranking next below a colonel and next above a major.

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lieutenant colonel British  

noun

1. an officer holding commissioned rank immediately junior to a colonel in certain armies, air forces, and marine corps

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Etymology

Origin of lieutenant colonel

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Marín Chaparro, the lieutenant colonel arrested in the same wave, had also served his sentence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

David, whose name I’ve changed because he is still serving, is a lieutenant colonel and physician in the Army Reserve.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

Moran's president, Vyacheslav Kalashnikov, is a retired FSB lieutenant colonel, according to the Warsaw Institute, a Polish think tank.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

Mr Caterham became a lieutenant colonel in the army, and the couple were stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar.

From BBC • May 1, 2025

Eventually she and Jerry both received promotions to lieutenant colonel and wore silver oak leaves on their shoulders.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston