commissioner

[ kuh-mish-uh-ner ]

noun

1. a person commissioned to act officially; member of a commission.
2. a government official or representative in charge of a department or district:

   the police commissioner; the commissioner of a colony.

3. an official chosen by an athletic association to exercise broad administrative or judicial authority:

   the baseball commissioner.

commissioner

/ kəˈmɪʃənə /

noun

1. a person authorized to perform certain tasks or endowed with certain powers
2. government
   1. any of several types of civil servant
   2. an ombudsman See also Health Service Commissioner Parliamentary Commissioner
3. a member of a commission

Derived Forms

• comˈmissionerˌship, noun

Other Words From

• com·mission·er·ship noun
• subcom·mission·er noun
• subcom·mission·er·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of commissioner¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Anglo-French. See commission, -er ²

Example Sentences

“Things are very different now. Things evolved during the period of time that I was there where the police commissioners, for all intents and purposes, provided a rubber stamp,” he said in the deposition.

From Los Angeles Times

The children’s commissioner for England believes some families are being "forced" to educate their children at home after a BBC investigation found the number making the switch has doubled in five years.

From BBC

Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told the BBC he was "deeply troubled" by talks so far on its annual settlement for next year.

From BBC

The NSW police commissioner said at the time that it was "obvious" Cauchi had targeted women.

From BBC

Mayor Karen Bass has to make her appointments before the next round of commissioner selections can move forward.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• administrator