Cpl
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Corporal (US Marine Corps) |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Military, Business & Finance, Transportation & Travel |
| Also written | CPL |
Cpl has three meanings. The most common are Corporal (US Marine Corps) (US Marine Corps rank) and Cost per lead (marketing & advertising); it can also stand for Commercial pilot license.
Meanings of Cpl at a glance
| # | Cpl stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corporal (US Marine Corps) | Military › US Marine Corps Rank |
| 2 | Cost per lead | Business & Finance › Marketing & Advertising |
| 3 | Commercial pilot license | Transportation & Travel › Aviation |
1. Corporal (US Marine Corps)
Military · US Marine Corps Rank Abbreviations
First Marine Corps noncommissioned officer grade, pay grade E-4, two chevrons above crossed rifles. Corporals typically lead fire teams of four Marines and are trusted with significant tactical and disciplinary responsibility.
Example: Cpl Martinez briefed his fire team on the route before they stepped off on patrol.
Marine NCOs wear the scarlet "blood stripe" on their dress blue trousers, a tradition popularly linked to the 1847 Battle of Chapultepec, and Marine corporals and sergeants carry a noncommissioned officer sword, a privilege dating to the 19th century. Promotions to corporal and sergeant depend on composite scores combining fitness, marksmanship, proficiency and education. The Army writes CPL.
2. Cost per lead (CPL)
Business & Finance · Marketing & Advertising Abbreviations
Marketing cost divided by the number of leads generated, such as form fills, demo requests or webinar registrations. It is a core metric in B2B, education, insurance and home services, and also a pricing model in which vendors are paid per lead delivered.
Example: LinkedIn gave us a $120 CPL, but those leads closed at three times the rate of the cheaper ones.
A low CPL is meaningless if the leads never buy, so teams track cost per qualified lead and cost per opportunity as well. Purchased leads are often shared with several buyers, which affects quality.
3. Commercial pilot license (CPL)
Transportation & Travel · Aviation Abbreviations
Pilot certificate allowing the holder to be paid for flying, for example banner towing, aerial photography, crop dusting or some charter work. The US requires at least 250 hours of total time (190 at approved schools), while EASA's CPL(A) requires 150 to 200 hours depending on the training route.
Example: He needs a CPL and 1,500 hours before any US airline will consider his application.
US paperwork calls it a "commercial pilot certificate." Most pilots add an instrument rating first; without one, US commercial pilots may not carry passengers for hire at night or on cross-country flights beyond 50 nautical miles. A commercial certificate alone does not qualify a pilot for airline work, which requires an ATP.
Related abbreviations
More US Marine Corps rank abbreviations
- BGen – Brigadier General (US Marine Corps)
- CAPT – Captain (US Navy and Coast Guard)
- CMC – Commandant of the Marine Corps
- COL – Colonel (US Army)
- GEN – General (US Army)
- GySgt – Gunnery Sergeant
- LCpl – Lance Corporal (US Marine Corps)
- LtCol – Lieutenant Colonel (US Marine Corps)
See all 25 US Marine Corps rank abbreviations →