commodore

[ kom-uh-dawr, -dohr ]

noun

1. Navy. a grade of flag officer next in rank below a rear admiral.
2. British Navy. an officer in temporary command of a squadron, sometimes over a captain on the same ship.
3. Navy. the senior captain when two or more ships of war are cruising in company.
4. (in the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine) the officer in command of a convoy.
5. the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels.
6. the president or head of a yacht club or boat club.

commodore

/ ˈkɒməˌdɔː /

noun

1. a naval rank junior to rear admiral and senior to captain
2. the senior captain of a shipping line
3. the officer in command of a convoy of merchant ships
4. the senior flag office of a yacht or boat club

Word History and Origins

Origin of commodore¹

1685–95; earlier commandore, perhaps < Dutch komandeur < French commandeur commander

Word History and Origins

Origin of commodore¹

C17: probably from Dutch commandeur, from French, from Old French commander to command

Example Sentences

It worked, highlighted by getting chosen as commodore, something she said she couldn’t have imagined when she first got here.

From Seattle Times

“Our experience with the university has not been that they would like to keep us here,” said Renee Chien, a senior and the club’s rear commodore.

From Seattle Times

Chidester is a former commodore at the boat club, The Detroit News reported.

From Seattle Times

A game room and revamped observation bar are there for overnight and day guests, and the ship also rolled out the commodore’s office, where officers are available to answer guests’ questions about the ship.

From Los Angeles Times

Additionally, the club lost cherished photographs of every past commodore, a significant position within a yacht club.

From Los Angeles Times