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second lieutenant
noun
: a commissioned officer of the lowest rank in the army, air force, or marine corps
Examples of second lieutenant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After a stint in the city DA’s office, Oh joined the Army National Guard, serving as a second lieutenant in the 20th Special Forces Group; his unit was activated in 1991 for Operation Desert Storm, but the war ended before his deployment overseas.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
William, who was serving as a second lieutenant in the army, suddenly canceled plans to join her at her family’s New Year’s gathering, Jobson reported.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 29 July 2024
Buy Now Netflix's 'Maid': Everything to Know 18 of 20
'And No Birds Sang' by Farley Mowat
After he's rejected by Royal Canadian Air Force, Farley Mowat joined the infantry in 1940 as a second lieutenant and quickly earned the trust of his fellow soldiers.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 29 June 2024
Pioneering aviator Captain Theresa M. Claiborne has retired after 43 years of flying, first as a second lieutenant and the first Black female pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and then as a captain at United Airlines.
—Dhanika Pineda, ABC News, 24 May 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1702, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of second lieutenant was
in 1702
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Cite this Entry
“Second lieutenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20lieutenant. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
second lieutenant
noun
: a military commissioned officer of the lowest rank
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