second in command
/ˈsɛkənd ɪn kəˈmænd/
noun
- The person who is next in rank or authority after the leader or commander of a group, organization, or military unit.
- When the captain was injured, the second-in-command took over the team's leadership.
- The vice president serves as the second-in-command to the company's CEO.
- In the army, the lieutenant is often the second-in-command of a platoon.
Synonyms
Antonyms