second-in-command
Leader's primary backup
A second-in-command is the person who ranks immediately below the leader and takes charge in their absence.
The term appears in military, corporate, and organizational contexts: The captain's second-in-command led the mission when she was injured.
Often shortened to 2IC in military usage.
Junior commissioned officer
- viceBad habit or deputy
- adjutantCommander's administrative officer
- aideSupporting staff member
- assistantOne who aids another
understudy · right-hand · subordinate · backup · associate · protege · apprentice · coadjutor
Junior commissioned officer
- adjutantCommander's administrative officer
- aide-de-campPersonal military assistant
- sergeant-majorSenior enlisted military rank
- captainOne who commands
quartermaster · orderly · batman · subaltern
Second-ranking executive officer
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
- viceroyRoyal colonial governor
regent · chancellor · provost · prefect · steward · seneschal · proconsul · majordomo
Opposite of left
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
- trustedEarned belief in
- loyalFirm in allegiance
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
faithful · dependable · reliable · stalwart · devoted · ally · partner · collaborator
One who gives guidance
- counselorOne who advises
- helperOne who aids another
- facilitatorNeutral process guide
- enablerOne who facilitates harmful behavior
coordinator · manager · administrator · supervisor · organizer · implementer · strategist · planner
One who receives legacy
- successorOne who replaces another
- presumptiveAssumed without full proof
- designateFormally select or name
- dauphinFrench throne's heir apparent
heir-apparent · standby · replacement · fallback · contingency
lieutenant
Junior commissioned officer
assistant · understudy · right-hand · subordinate · backup · associate · protege · apprentice · coadjutor · acolyte
lieutenant
Junior commissioned officer
- adjutantCommander's administrative officer
- aide-de-campPersonal military assistant
- sergeant-majorSenior enlisted military rank
captain · quartermaster · orderly · batman · subaltern
vice-president
Second-ranking executive officer
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
viceroy · regent · chancellor · provost · prefect · steward · seneschal · proconsul · majordomo · procurator
right-hand
Opposite of left
steadfast · faithful · dependable · reliable · stalwart · devoted · ally · partner · collaborator · mainstay
advisor
One who gives guidance
- counselorOne who advises
- helperOne who aids another
- facilitatorNeutral process guide
enabler · coordinator · manager · administrator · supervisor · organizer · implementer · strategist · planner · fixer
heir
One who receives legacy
- successorOne who replaces another
- presumptiveAssumed without full proof
- designateFormally select or name
dauphin · heir-apparent · standby · replacement · fallback · contingency
- Deputiesdeputy, lieutenant, number two, vice president, deputy director
- Sidekickssidekick, Dr. Watson, Watson, right-hand man, number two
- support roleshelper, assistant, aide, support staff, backup
- firefightersfirefighter, firefighters, fireman, fire captain, hotshots
- underlingsunderling, underlings, subordinate, minions, minion
- accomplicesaccomplice, accessory, co-conspirator, abettor, collaborator
second-in-commandleader
One who guides others
commander · chief · number one · commander-in-chief · boss
second-in-commandsubordinate
One lower in rank
underling · foot soldier · rank and file · grunt · minion
second, command, secondary, commander, seconds, seconded, commandment, seconding, secondarily