lieutenant
gb/lutˈɛnənt/ us/lutˈɛnənt/
B1
English
~ 4500
főhadnagy, helyettes, alvezér, jobbkéz
NOUN
B1
1
főhadnagy
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a lieutenant in [branch of military]
Lieutenant Harris led his platoon into the training exercise.
Harris főhadnagy vezette a szakaszát a kiképzési gyakorlaton.
After years of service, she was promoted to lieutenant.
Több év szolgálat után főhadnaggyá léptették elő.
The navy appointed him as a lieutenant on the new destroyer.
Lieutenant Chen reported directly to the company commander.
Learner examples
My brother is a lieutenant in the army.
A bátyám főhadnagy a hadseregben.
The lieutenant gave orders to the soldiers.
A főhadnagy parancsot adott a katonáknak.
She became a lieutenant after three years.
The lieutenant works on a big ship.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'lieutenant' with 'lieutenant colonel', which is a higher rank.
Meaning
Military officer below captain
Collocations
second lieutenant
|first lieutenant
|naval lieutenant
|army lieutenant
|lieutenant colonel
Synonyms
officer (A more general term for someone with a position of authority in the military or police.)
Antonyms
captain (A higher rank than lieutenant in most armed forces.)
Themes
military
|ranks
|jobs
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An officer in the army, navy, or air force who is just below the rank of captain.
A commissioned officer in the armed forces, ranking below a captain and above a second lieutenant or equivalent.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s lieutenant
She served as the mayor's most trusted lieutenant for over a decade.
Több mint egy évtizeden át a polgármester legmegbízhatóbb helyetteseként dolgozott.
The crime boss relied on his lieutenants to manage different parts of the operation.
A bűnözőfőnök az alvezéreire támaszkodott, hogy irányítsák a művelet különböző részeit.
His political lieutenants worked hard to secure votes across the state.
Learner examples
He is the manager's main lieutenant.
Ő a vezető legfőbb helyettese.
The mayor's lieutenant talked to the press.
A polgármester helyettese beszélt a sajtóval.
Her lieutenants helped her run the company.
Common mistake:
Some learners think this meaning only applies to the military, but it can also be used more generally.
Meaning
Deputy or trusted assistant
Collocations
trusted lieutenant
|chief lieutenant
|political lieutenant
|loyal lieutenant
Synonyms
deputy (A formal term for someone who can act in place of another person with authority.)
Antonyms
leader (The person in charge, rather than the assistant.)
Themes
leadership
|business
|politics
|work
Definition
A person who helps and works for someone in power, often doing important jobs for them.
A person who acts as a trusted assistant or deputy to someone in authority, especially in politics, business, or crime organizations.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lieutenant
IPA
GB/lutˈɛnənt/
US/lutˈɛnənt/
Syllables & stress
lieu - ten - ant (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ten)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: lieutenant
- Plural: lieutenants
Word family
Forms
lieutenants
noun
Advanced or less common
lieutenancy
noun
Expressions
first lieutenant
1/fˈɚst lutˈɛnənt/
fixed phrase
technical
Officer above second lieutenant
An officer rank above second lieutenant and below captain in the army, air force, or marines; in the navy, a position responsible for ship's upkeep.
Examples
- She was promoted to first lieutenant after two years of service.
- In the navy, the first lieutenant oversees the ship's maintenance.
lieutenant colonel
1/lutˈɛnənt kˈɚnəl/
fixed phrase
technical
Rank above major, below colonel
An officer rank above major and below colonel in the army, air force, or marines.
Examples
- Lieutenant Colonel Davis will take command of the battalion next month.
- She was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel.
second lieutenant
1/sˈɛkənd lutˈɛnənt/
fixed phrase
technical
Lowest commissioned officer rank
The lowest rank for an officer in many armies and air forces.
Examples
- He entered the army as a second lieutenant after graduating from military academy.
- Second lieutenants often lead small units of soldiers.