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first lieutenant

American  

noun

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


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of first lieutenant

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Shortly after My Lai, Calley was promoted to first lieutenant and went on to serve another 15 months in Vietnam.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 30, 2024

Mr. Romo was a strong supporter of the war when he arrived in Vietnam as a first lieutenant in the U.S.

From New York Times May 15, 2024

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

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

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

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