first mate

American

noun

the officer of a merchant vessel next in command beneath the captain.

first mate British

noun

Also called: first officer. an officer second in command to the captain of a merchant ship

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In September, French authorities boarded the vessel, which claimed to be flagged in Benin, briefly detaining its captain and first mate.

From Barron's

French authorities boarded the vessel in September, briefly detaining its captain and first mate.

From Barron's

Finally, the first mate—he’s the head sailor—knocked on the captain’s door.

From Literature

Nighthand’s first mate, Warren, came up from the cabin and peered across the wooden deck.

From Literature

She lists the many infractions the first mate committed and defies any among them to countermand her husband’s orders.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023