commanding officer

noun

1. Army. a commander of any rank from second lieutenant to colonel.

commanding officer

noun

1. an officer in command of a military unit

Word History and Origins

Origin of commanding officer¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of the squadron, said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

She remembers that the commanding officer yelled for “quiet” because some of the young women were losing focus amid the horror.

From BBC

Sir Ben said he would have expected the commanding officer of the special forces unit responsible, and the then-director special Forces, General Jonathan Page, to refer the allegations to the RMP.

From BBC

Roddis is a former commanding officer of The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, and later played a role overseeing special forces.

From BBC

Wing Cdr Adam Collins, the team's commanding officer, said it will recognise "his outstanding contribution to British aviation, the Royal Air Force and entertaining millions of people as an original Red Arrow".

From BBC

Related Words

• commandant
• commander