captain
0 antonyms and opposites of captain, grouped by meaning.
Noun — The person in charge of a ship, aircraft, or team.
How to use captain
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French capitaine, from Late Latin capitaneus, "chief," ultimately from Latin caput, "head" — the same root as "capital" and "chief."
Full origin of captain →Frequently asked questions
What does “captain” mean?
The word “captain” means the person in charge of a ship, aircraft, or team. In plain terms, the person who leads or is officially in charge — of a ship, plane, sports team, or a rank in the military.
How do you pronounce “captain”?
“Captain” is pronounced KAP-tihn (/ˈkæp.tən/ in IPA).
How do you use “captain” in a sentence?
Here is “captain” used in a sentence: “The captain announced that the flight would be delayed by an hour.”
What part of speech is “captain”?
Depending on how it is used, “captain” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “captain” come from?
The word “captain” comes from Late Latin. From Old French capitaine, from Late Latin capitaneus, "chief," ultimately from Latin caput, "head" — the same root as "capital" and "chief.".
Is “captain” a common word?
“Captain” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “captain” have?
“Captain” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the person in charge of a ship, aircraft, or team.
What is the difference between a captain and a pilot?
On an aircraft, both are pilots, but the captain is the senior pilot in command, holding final authority for the flight; the other is the first officer or co-pilot. So every captain is a pilot, but the title marks the one who carries ultimate responsibility for the aircraft and everyone aboard.
What are the types of captain?
The word covers several roles: a ship's captain who commands a vessel, an airline captain who leads the flight crew, a team captain who leads players in sport, and a captain as a rank in the military or police. In each case the captain is the person in charge.
What does a captain do?
A captain leads and takes responsibility for a group or vessel. On a ship or aircraft they command the crew, make key decisions, and answer for everyone's safety. On a team they motivate players, represent the side to officials, and set an example. The common thread is authority paired with accountability.
What is an example of a captain?
Examples include the captain of a cruise ship who steers it safely into port, the captain of a football team who leads the players onto the pitch, or an airline captain announcing the descent. Each is the recognised person in charge of their ship, aircraft, or team.