{{Short description|Title given to a commander}} {{Other uses}} {{Redirect|Cpt.|other uses|CPT (disambiguation){{!}}CPT}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use British English|date=March 2025}}

thumb | right | Captain of a ship during a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission '''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== The word "captain" derives from the Middle English "capitane", from Anglo-French "capitain", itself coming from the Latin "caput", meaning "head".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-13 |title=Definition of CAPTAIN |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captain#word-history |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> It is considered cognate with the Greek word {{Lang|grc-Latn|katepánō}} ({{Langx|grc|κατεπάνω}}, {{literally|[the one placed] at the top}}, or "the topmost"), which was used as title for a senior Byzantine military rank and office.<ref>{{Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565–1204}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=May 2021}} The word was Latinized as {{langx|grc-Latn|capetanus or catepan}}. Both ultimately derive from the Proto-Indo-European "*káput", also meaning head.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Etymology of "captain" by etymonline |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/captain |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=etymonline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Occupations or roles== * Captain (armed forces), 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/travel/captain-kate-mccue-women-celebrity-cruises.html |last=Mzezewa |first=Tariro |date=February 25, 2019 |title=Please Call Her Captain |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref> * Captain (airlines), a licensed professional pilot who is legally in command of a civil aircraft; corresponding to the position of pilot in command (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 in the United States. * 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 ==

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

=== Germany === * 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 === * Captain (Indian Navy) * Group captain (India)

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

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

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

==References== {{Reflist}}

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Category:Military command staff occupations Category:Military ranks Category:Naval ranks Category:Police ranks Category:Former disambiguation pages converted to set index articles Category:Captains