commission

[ kuh-mish-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of committing or entrusting a person, group, etc., with supervisory power or authority.
2. an authoritative order, charge, or direction.
3. authority granted for a particular action or function.
4. a document granting such authority.
5. a document conferring authority issued by the president of the U.S. to officers in the Army, Navy, and other military services, and by state governments to justices of the peace and others.
6. the power thus granted.
7. the position or rank of an officer in any of the armed forces.
8. a group of persons authoritatively charged with particular functions:

   a parks commission.

9. the condition of being placed under special authoritative responsibility or charge.
10. a task or matter committed to one's charge; official assignment:

    The architect received a commission to design an office building.

11. the act of committing or perpetrating a crime, error, etc.:

    The commission of a misdemeanor is punishable by law.

12. something that is committed:

    He was held accountable for his evil commissions.

13. authority to act as agent for another or others in commercial transactions.
14. a sum or percentage of what has been paid that is allowed to agents, sales representatives, etc., for their services:

    In addition to her salary, she will get a 20 percent commission for each sale she makes.

verb (used with object)

1. to give a commission to:

   to commission a new graduate of a military academy with the rank of lieutenant.

2. to authorize; send on a mission:

   I've been commissioned by my friend overseas to find him a cheap apartment in New York.

3. to give the order that places a warship, military command, etc., in a state of complete readiness for active duty.
4. to give a commission or order for:

   The owners commissioned a painting for the building's lobby.

commission

/ kəˈmɪʃən /

noun

1. a duty or task committed to a person or group to perform
2. authority to undertake or perform certain duties or functions
3. a document granting such authority
4. military
   1. a document conferring a rank on an officer
   2. the rank or authority thereby granted
5. a group of people charged with certain duties

   a commission of inquiry

6. a government agency or board empowered to exercise administrative, judicial, or legislative authority See also Royal Commission
7. 1. the authority given to a person or organization to act as an agent to a principal in commercial transactions
   2. the fee allotted to an agent for services rendered
8. the state of being charged with specific duties or responsibilities
9. the act of committing a sin, crime, etc
10. something, esp a sin, crime, etc, that is committed
11. good working condition or (esp of a ship) active service (esp in the phrases in or into commission, out of commission )
12. the head of a department of municipal government

verb

1. tr to grant authority to; charge with a duty or task
2. tr military to confer a rank on or authorize an action by
3. tr to equip and test (a ship) for active service
4. to make or become operative or operable

   the plant is due to commission next year

5. tr to place an order for (something)

   to commission a portrait

commission

1. A fee paid to a broker or other financial agent for negotiating a sale. The fee is based on a percentage of the sale price.

Derived Forms

• comˈmissional, adjective

Other Words From

• com·mission·a·ble adjective
• com·mission·al adjective
• com·missive adjective
• com·missive·ly adverb
• inter·com·mission noun
• recom·mission noun verb (used with object)
• subcom·mission noun
• uncom·missioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of commission¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin commissiōn-, stem of commissiō “commencement”; equivalent to com- + mission

Word History and Origins

Origin of commission¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin commissiō a bringing together, from committere to commit

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in commission,
   1. in service.
   2. in operating order:

      A great deal of work will be necessary to put this car in commission again.

   3. Also into commission. Navy. (of a ship) manned and in condition for or ordered to active service.
2. on commission, paid entirely or partially with commissions from sales one has made or for work one has done:

   The salespeople who are on commission earn 6 percent of the total amount they sell.

3. out of commission,
   1. not in service:

      Telephone lines were out of commission for several days after the storm.

   2. not in operating order:

      Sorry, but I can't bake cupcakes for you while the stove is out of commission.

More idioms and phrases containing commission

see in commission ; on commission ; out of commission .

Example Sentences

Smith, 51, honored by this “massive ask” in January 2021, had not taken the responsibility of accepting this commission lightly.

From Los Angeles Times

A state law approved last year commissioned a study to analyze opportunities for and obstacles to increasing social housing in California.

From Los Angeles Times

The couple’s roles came into question in June 2022, when the commission launched a statutory inquiry to determine if they had benefitted privately at the charity’s expense.

From BBC

During a heated discussion of the proposed wage boosts, several council members questioned whether an analysis of the economic impact of the wage hike that was commissioned by the city had been thorough enough.

From Los Angeles Times

The commission must approve exception appointments at the most senior grade, but below this level departments have a free hand to recruit.

From BBC

Related Words

• instruct