captain

[ kap-tuhn, -tin ]

noun

1. a person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader.
2. an officer ranking in most armies above a first lieutenant and below a major.
3. an officer in the U.S. Navy ranking above a commander and below a rear admiral or a commodore.
4. a military leader.
5. an officer in the police department, ranking above a lieutenant and usually below an inspector.
6. an officer of the fire department, usually in command of a company, ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief or assistant chief.
7. the commander of a merchant vessel. Compare staff captain.
8. the pilot of an airplane.
9. a local official in a political party responsible for organizing votes on a ward or precinct level.
10. Sports. the field leader of a team:

    The captain of the home team elected to receive on the kickoff.

11. a person of great power and influence, especially based on economic wealth.
12. headwaiter.
13. bell captain.
14. South Midland and Southern U.S. an unofficial title of respect for a man (sometimes used humorously or ironically).

verb (used with object)

1. to lead or command as a captain.

captain

/ ˈkæptɪn /

noun

1. the person in charge of and responsible for a vessel
2. an officer of the navy who holds a rank junior to a rear admiral but senior to a commander
3. an officer of the army, certain air forces, and the marine corps who holds a rank junior to a major but senior to a lieutenant
4. the officer in command of a civil aircraft, usually the senior pilot
5. the leader of a team in games
6. a person in command over a group, organization, etc; leader

   a captain of industry

7. a police officer in charge of a precinct
8. (formerly) a head waiter
9. Also calledbell captain a supervisor of bellboys in a hotel
10. informal.
    a person who is buying drinks for people in a bar

verb

1. tr to be captain of

Derived Forms

• ˈcaptaincy, noun

Other Words From

• sub·captain noun
• un·captained adjective
• under·captain noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of captain¹

1325–75; Middle English capitain < Anglo-French capitain, captayn < Late Latin capitāneus chief, equivalent to capit- (stem of caput ) head + -ān ( us ) -an + -eus -eous

Word History and Origins

Origin of captain¹

C14: from Old French capitaine, from Late Latin capitāneus chief, from Latin caput head

Example Sentences

Captain Jamie George says England have "evolved" from the side beaten by South Africa in the World Cup semi-finals last year.

From BBC

Shea Charles will captain the side against Belarus in his 22nd appearance for the senior team.

From BBC

Head coach Rassie Erasmus has made 12 changes to the side who won at Murrayfield, with captain Siya Kolisi returning to the starting XV.

From BBC

Captain Siya Kolisi and former world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit return in the back row, while winger Cheslin Kolbe is also named in the side.

From BBC

Some of his answers can morph into four or five-minute monologues on playing patterns or counter-pressing; the former Wales captain only coming up for air when he apologises, while grinning, for going off on another tangent.

From BBC

Related Words

• boss
• commander
• director
• executive
• leader
• officer
• operator
• owner
• pilot
• skipper