Definition

Noun: A commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. It is senior to the rank of lieutenant and junior to the rank of commander.

Usage

The term "lieutenant commander" is used as a title or to refer to an officer holding this specific rank. - It is often abbreviated as LCDR. - When used as a title before a name, it is capitalized (e.g., Lieutenant Commander Smith). - When referring to the rank in general, it is not capitalized (e.g., He was promoted to lieutenant commander).

Examples

• As a title:
  • Lieutenant Commander Data is the operations officer on the USS Enterprise.
  • The briefing was given by Lieutenant Commander Jones.
• Referring to the rank:
  • She achieved the rank of lieutenant commander after ten years of service.
  • A lieutenant commander typically serves as a department head on a ship.

Advanced Usage

• "to make lieutenant commander": To be promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander.
  • He hopes to make lieutenant commander this year.
• "lieutenant commander select": An officer who has been selected for promotion to lieutenant commander but has not yet been officially promoted.
  • The lieutenant commander select attended the leadership course.

Variants and Related Words

• Commander (noun): The rank immediately above lieutenant commander.
• Lieutenant (noun): The rank immediately below lieutenant commander.
• Lieutenant commander, junior grade: This is not a standard rank. The correct junior rank is simply lieutenant. The phrase "lieutenant junior grade" is a separate, lower rank.

Synonyms

• LCDR (Abbreviation): The standard abbreviation for lieutenant commander.
• O-4 (Pay Grade): In the U.S. Navy, lieutenant commander corresponds to the pay grade O-4.

Related Phrases

• Frocked as a lieutenant commander: When an officer is authorized to wear the uniform and insignia of lieutenant commander before the official promotion date.
  • He was frocked as a lieutenant commander and assumed his new duties.

Noun

1. a commissioned officer in the Navy ranking above a lieutenant and below a commander