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Synonyms

commissioner

American  
[kuh-mish-uh-ner] / kəˈmɪʃ ə nər /

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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of commissioner

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

Explanation

The noun commissioner refers to someone in charge of a formal group or organization, such as a police commissioner or a baseball commissioner. As you might guess, commissioner is related to commission, which describes a group that carries out a particular function. Commissioner can describe an official who directs or regulates a commission, or it can be that person's title. For example, if Theodore Young is the housing commissioner, in formal situations you’d refer to him as Commissioner Young.

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Vocabulary lists containing commissioner

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the decision was made in coordination with the Secret Service because of Trump’s visit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

“The data center folks have found a sweet spot in the state that has limited regulations,” said Hill County Commissioner Jim Holcomb.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

The court voted 3-1 in favor of the letter of support, with Commissioner Nannette Samuelson dissenting.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

However, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has been critical of the federal response.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

During a recess in the trial, Dr. King turned around and noticed Mayor Gayle, Commissioner Sellers, and two attorneys quickly disappearing into a back room.

From "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose

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