Captain

Title given to a commander

For other uses, see Captain (disambiguation).

"Cpt." redirects here. For other uses, see CPT.

Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, etc. In militaries, the captain is typically at the level of an officer commanding a company or battalion of infantry, a ship, or a battery of artillery, or another distinct unit. It can also be a rank of command in an air force. The term also may be used as an informal or honorary title for persons in similar commanding roles.

## Etymology

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The word "captain" derives from the Middle English "capitane", itself coming from the Latin "caput", meaning "head".[1] It is considered cognate with the Greek word katepánō (Ancient Greek: κατεπάνω, lit. '[the one placed] at the top', or "the topmost"), which was used as title for a senior Byzantine military rank and office.[2][page needed] The word was Latinized as Ancient Greek: capetanus or catepan. Both ultimately derive from the Proto-Indo-European "*kaput", also meaning head.[3]

## Occupations or roles

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* Captain (army), a commissioned officer rank corresponding to NATO OF-2 level. Typically commander of a company size unit, or equivalent. It is also a rank of command in the air force.
* Captain (naval), a commissioned officer rank in the navy, corresponding to the rank of Army colonel, Air force colonel.
* Captain (nautical), a licensed person or civilian marine officer who is legally in command of a merchant ship, a yacht or another type of vessel that may or may not be carrying passengers for hire; corresponds to the work condition of shipmaster or, as usually said, master.[4]
* Captain (airlines), a licensed professional pilot who is legally in command of a civil aircraft; corresponding to the position of pilot in command. See PIC.
* Fire captain, officer in a fire department.
* Police captain, officer in a police organization.
* Group Captain, a senior commissioned rank in many air forces.
* Captain of industry, business leader.
* Captain of the Port, harbour (UK) or Coast Guard (USA) post.
* Precinct captain, political party's representative at an election precinct.
* Barangay captain, Head of Barangay (Village) in the Philippines
* School captain, student elected or appointed to represent the school.
* Captain Regent, head of state of San Marino.
* Captain-major, colonial officer of a Portuguese possession.
* Captain-commandant, a Belgian military rank.
* Katepano, a senior Byzantine officer (and word from which "captain" derived).
* Kapudan Pasha
* Kapitan Cina
* Captal, a regional title in Southern France.

## Military ranks

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### Canada

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* Captain (Canadian naval rank)
* Captain (Canadian army and air force)

### Germany

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* Kapitän bzw. „Kapitän zur See“ (Deutsche Marine), Nato OF-5 grade
* Hauptmann, the german equivalent of Captain in Army (Armee/Heer) and Air Force (Luftwaffe)

### India

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* Captain (Indian Navy)
* Group captain (India)
* Colonel (Indian Army)

### Israel

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* Seren, an Israel Defense Forces officer rank whether Army, Air Force, or Navy

### South Africa

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* Captain is a South African National Defence Force officer rank of the South African Army, South African Air Force, South African Navy, South African Military Health Service

### United Kingdom

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* Captain (Royal Navy), NATO OF-5 grade
* Captain (British Army and Royal Marines), NATO OF-2 grade
* Group Captain (Royal Air Force), NATO OF-5 grade

### United States

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* Captain (United States)
* Captain (United States O-3) (US Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, or Space Force)
* Captain (United States O-6) (US Navy, US Public Health Service, or Coast Guard)

### Generic

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* Captain (naval)
* Captain at sea
* Captain of sea and war
* Other captain grades
* Ship-of-the-line captain
* Senior Captain
* Staff captain

## See also

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* Captain (sports)
* Chief executive officer
* Capitaine (disambiguation)
* Capitan (disambiguation)
* El Capitan (disambiguation), Spanish for "The Captain"
* Kapitan (disambiguation)

## References

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1. ^ "Definition of CAPTAIN". www.merriam-webster.com. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
2. ^ Haldon, John (1999). Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565–1204. London: UCL Press. ISBN 1-85728-495-X.
3. ^ "Etymology of "captain" by etymonline". etymonline. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
4. ^ Mzezewa, Tariro (25 February 2019). "Please Call Her Captain". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

Index of articles associated with the same name

This set index article includes a list of related items that share the same name (or similar names).
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*[lit.]: literal translation