second in command
The backup leader
A second in command is the person next in authority after the leader, ready to take charge in their absence.
The phrase appears in military, corporate, and informal contexts: The captain was injured, so his second in command took over.
Often abbreviated to 2IC in military usage.
Authorized substitute or assistant
- lieutenantJunior commissioned officer
- vice-presidentSecond-ranking executive officer
- executive officerHigh-ranking organizational leader
- assistant managerSubordinate leadership position
associate director · adjutant · underboss · vice-chairman · junior partner · chief of staff · number two · right-hand
deputy
Authorized substitute or assistant
- lieutenantJunior commissioned officer
- vice-presidentSecond-ranking executive officer
- executive officerHigh-ranking organizational leader
assistant manager · associate director · adjutant · underboss · vice-chairman · junior partner · chief of staff · number two · right-hand · wingman
- commandersgeneral, admiral, commodore, colonel, brigadier
- Deputiesdeputy, lieutenant, number two, vice president, deputy director
- hierarchyrank, ranked, authority, tiered, reporting
- helpersnurse, helper, volunteer, aide, assistant
- Next in Lineheir, successor, heir apparent, crown prince, understudy
- Hierarchy termspecking order, junior, secondary, totem pole, inferior
second in commandcommander
Person with authority over others
commander in chief · number one · leader · chief · boss
second in commandsuperior
Higher in rank
commanding officer · direct report · subordinate · follower · minion
second in commandsupreme leader
Highest-ranking authoritarian figure
sovereign · autocrat · absolute ruler · person in charge · the buck stops here
second, command, commanding, commander, seconds, commanders, second-in-command