captain
KAP-tihn
Captain (noun) means the person in charge of a ship, aircraft, or team. Example: “The captain of the fishing boat checked the weather before sailing.”
noun
1
The person in charge of a ship, aircraft, or team.
"The captain of the fishing boat checked the weather before sailing."
"The captain announced that the flight would be delayed by an hour."
"She was named captain of the school hockey team."
2
A military rank above lieutenant and below major (army) or between commander and commodore (navy).
"The captain gave orders to the lieutenants before the exercise began."
"Her father retired from the army with the rank of captain."
"He was promoted to captain after five years of service."
verb
1
To lead or take command of a ship, aircraft, or team.
"She captained the cricket team for three successful seasons."
"He hopes to captain a large cargo vessel one day."
"He captained the vessel through the storm without incident."
How to use captain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person who leads or is officially in charge — of a ship, plane, sports team, or a rank in the military.
Common pairings
team captain
ship's captain
captain a vessel
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Word forms
- Plural
- captains
- Third person singular
- captains
- Past tense
- captained
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The _____ of the fishing boat checked the weather before sailing.
Etymology
From Old French capitaine, from Late Latin capitaneus, "chief," ultimately from Latin caput, "head" — the same root as "capital" and "chief."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for captain
See all rhymes for 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.
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