中校是军队的职衔，介于少校和上校之间。英文里，陆军以及由它衍生出来的军种的中校称为Lieutenant Colonel，美国海军中校称为Commander。英国空军中校则称为Wing Commander（大队长）。

中校在美国陆军主要担任营长职务，在******主要担任营长、群部单位主官或高司单位参谋，*****的陆军作战部队则可担任营长、副团长、团长。日本称为中佐，自卫队则特称为二佐。

Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence. A lieutenant colonel is typically in charge of a battalion in the army.