An officer rank in the armed forces, police, or fire services, usually just below a captain. It can also mean someone who acts as a trusted assistant or deputy.
From French *lieu* (place) and *tenant* (holding), meaning “one who holds a place for another.” It originally referred to someone acting in place of a higher authority.
The strange spelling and pronunciation of ‘lieutenant’ reflect its French roots and English sound changes colliding. The core idea is simple though: a lieutenant literally ‘holds the place’ of a superior.
Military ranks like “lieutenant” historically referred almost exclusively to men because formal armed forces leadership roles were largely closed to women until the 20th century. The term itself is grammatically ungendered in English, but its cultural image and usage in media long defaulted to male officers.
Use “lieutenant” as a gender-neutral rank and avoid assuming pronouns; specify the person’s actual pronouns or use they/them if unknown. Avoid pairing the rank with gendered titles like “lady lieutenant” unless the person explicitly prefers it.
["officer","ranking officer"]
Women and nonbinary officers have served as lieutenants across many armed forces, often facing institutional barriers; acknowledging their roles helps counter the default male image of military leadership.
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