Admiral vs. Commander — What's the Difference?

Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, or fleet admiral.

Commander is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces.

The most senior commander of a fleet or navy.

A person who commands, especially a commanding officer.

A butterfly which has dark wings with bold red or white markings.

A commissioned rank in the US Navy or Coast Guard that is above lieutenant commander and below captain.

The commander in chief of a fleet.

One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization.

A flag officer.

The chief commissioned officer of a military unit regardless of rank.

A commissioned rank in the US Navy or Coast Guard that is above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral.

An officer in some knightly or fraternal orders.

One who holds the rank of admiral, Fleet Admiral, rear admiral, or vice admiral.

One who exercises control and direction of a military or naval organization.

Any of various brightly colored nymphalid butterflies of the genera Limenitis and Vanessa, especially V. atalanta, having black wings with red bands.

A naval officer whose rank is above that of a lieutenant commander and below that of captain.

(Archaic) The ship carrying an admiral; flagship.

One who exercises control and direction over a group of persons.

A naval officer of the highest rank; the commander of a country's naval forces.

A designation or rank in certain non-military organizations such as NASA and various police forces.

A naval officer of high rank, immediately below Admiral of the Fleet; the commander of a fleet or squadron.

(obsolete) The chief officer of a commandry.

A flag officer in the United States Navy or Coast Guard of a grade superior to vice admiral and junior to admiral of the fleet (when that grade is used). An admiral is equal in grade or rank to a four-star general.

A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc.

The ship which carries the admiral, the flagship; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.

A rank within an honorary order: e.g. Commander of the Legion of Honour.

(obsolete) A prince or Saracen leader under the Sultan.

Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Moduza.

Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Kaniska, Limenitis and Vanessa, especially a red admiral or white admiral.

A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it.

A naval officer of the highest rank; a naval officer of high rank, of which there are different grades. The chief gradations in rank are admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral. The admiral is the commander in chief of a fleet or of fleets.

An officer who ranks next below a captain, - ranking with a lieutenant colonel in the army.

The ship which carries the admiral; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.

The chief officer of a commandery.

A handsome butterfly (Pyrameis Atalanta) of Europe and America. The larva feeds on nettles.

A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc.

The supreme commander of a fleet; ranks above a vice admiral and below a fleet admiral

An officer in command of a military unit

Any of several brightly colored butterflies

Someone in an official position of authority who can command or control others

A commissioned naval officer who ranks above a lieutenant commander and below a captain

An officer in the airforce