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Second-in-command: meaning, definitions and examples

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second-in-command

[ ˌsɛkənd ɪn kəˈmænd ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

military

The second-in-command is the officer who is next in rank to the commander, and who takes over as commander in the absence of the official commander.

Synonyms

assistant, associate, deputy, vice.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
second-in-command	Use when referring to a person who is directly under the leader and has significant authority and responsibilities. Common in military or hierarchical business contexts. The second-in-command took charge when the CEO was unavailable
deputy	Used when referring to a person who acts as a substitute or has the official role of assisting the leader, often in governmental or official capacities. The deputy mayor attended the event in place of the mayor
assistant	Appropriate for someone who helps another person with various tasks, typically in administrative or supportive roles, and usually with less authority. She works as an assistant to the marketing director, managing schedules and communications
vice	Commonly used in titles to indicate the person is second in command within an organization, like 'vice president.' It suggests formal recognition of authority. She was promoted to vice president of the company after years of dedicated service
associate	Refers to a colleague or partner in a business or professional setting, implying equal or nearly equal status, often used in law firms and academics. He is an associate at a leading law firm, collaborating on major cases

Examples of usage

He served as the second-in-command during the general's overseas deployment.
The second-in-command led the troops into battle when the commander fell ill.
The second-in-command is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the unit.
The second-in-command coordinates with other departments to ensure smooth functioning of the organization.
The second-in-command plays a crucial role in decision-making processes within the team.

Translations

Translations of the word "second-in-command" in other languages:

🇵🇹 segundo em comando

🇮🇳 दूसरे-इन-कमांड

🇩🇪 zweiter im Befehl

🇮🇩 kedua dalam komando

🇺🇦 заступник

🇵🇱 drugi w dowodzeniu

🇯🇵 副司令官

🇫🇷 second en commande

🇪🇸 segundo al mando

🇹🇷 ikinci komutan

🇰🇷 부사령관

🇸🇦 الثاني في القيادة

🇨🇿 druhý ve velení

🇸🇰 druhý vo velení

🇨🇳 副指挥官

🇸🇮 drugi v poveljstvu

🇮🇸 annar í stjórn

🇰🇿 екінші командир

🇬🇪 მეორე სარდალი

🇦🇿 ikinci komandan

🇲🇽 segundo al mando

Etymology

The term 'second-in-command' originated in military contexts, where it referred to the officer next in rank to the commander. Over time, it has been adopted in various organizational settings to denote the person who assumes leadership responsibilities in the absence of the official leader. The concept of a second-in-command is based on the need for hierarchical structures and clear lines of authority in order to ensure effective decision-making and coordination.