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

Chelsea captain and England defender Millie Bright once described Hayes as "a mentor, a friend and a life coach", adding it was "more than football playing under her".

From BBC

Stewart was England captain, vice-captain, keeper and batted in every position from one to seven.

From BBC

In the following days, social media users started trolling the ship’s female captain, claiming that her gender was to blame.

From BBC

Handwritten plans from Sir Alf Ramsey, photographs of former captain Bobby Moore and scouting reports from former Manchester United boss Sir Matt Busby were featured in the lot at Diss Auction Rooms in Norfolk.

From BBC

Wales captain Angharad James will be hoping to lead her side to victory over the two legs.

From BBC

Related Words

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