Phrase guide

first lieutenant

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The second lowest rank of a commissioned officer in the United States Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps, ranking above a second lieutenant and below a captain. The rank of first lieutenant is equivalent to the naval rank of lieutenant junior grade.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An equivalent rank in other military forces.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a commissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a 2nd lieutenant and below a captain

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: 1st lieutenant

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: lieutenant

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: ملازم أوّل — rank in the United States
  • Chinese Mandarin: 中尉 (zhōngwèi) — rank in the United States
  • Czech: nadporučík — rank in the United States
  • Estonian: nooremleitnant — rank in the United States
  • Finnish: yliluutnantti — rank in the United States
  • German: Leutnant — rank in the United States
  • German: Oberleutnant — rank in the United States
  • Greek: υπολοχαγός (ypolochagós) — rank in the United States
  • Greek: υποπλοίαρχος (ypoploíarchos) — rank in the United States
  • Greek: υποσμηναγός (yposminagós) — rank in the United States
  • Hungarian: főhadnagy — rank in the United States
  • Macedonian: поручник (poručnik) — rank in the United States
  • Norwegian: løytnant — rank in the United States
  • Norwegian: premierløytnant — rank in the United States
  • Portuguese: primeiro-tenente — rank in the United States
  • Russian: пе́рвый лейтена́нт (pérvyj lejtenánt) — rank in the United States
  • Russian: ста́рший лейтена́нт (stáršij lejtenánt) — rank in the United States
  • Serbo-Croatian: на̏тпоручнӣк — rank in the United States
  • Serbo-Croatian: на̏тпоручница — rank in the United States
  • Serbo-Croatian: nȁtporučnīk — rank in the United States
  • Serbo-Croatian: nȁtporučnica — rank in the United States
  • Slovene: nadporóčnik — rank in the United States
  • Slovene: nadporóčnica — rank in the United States
  • Lower Sorbian: wušy leutnant — rank in the United States
  • Spanish: alférez — rank in the United States
  • Turkish: üsteğmen — rank in the United States
  • Uzbek: katta leytenant — rank in the United States
  • Chinese Mandarin: 艦務官 /舰务官 (jiànwùguān) — rank in other military forces
  • Finnish: yliluutnantti — rank in other military forces
  • Turkish: üsteğmen — rank in other military forces