commission
the act of committing or entrusting a person, group, etc., with supervisory power or authority.
an authoritative order, charge, or direction.
authority granted for a particular action or function.
a document granting such authority.
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.
the power thus granted.
the position or rank of an officer in any of the armed forces.
a group of persons authoritatively charged with particular functions: a parks commission.
the condition of being placed under special authoritative responsibility or charge.
a task or matter committed to one's charge; official assignment: The architect received a commission to design an office building.
the act of committing or perpetrating a crime, error, etc.: The commission of a misdemeanor is punishable by law.
something that is committed: He was held accountable for his evil commissions.
authority to act as agent for another or others in commercial transactions.
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.
to give a commission to: to commission a new graduate of a military academy with the rank of lieutenant.
to authorize; send on a mission: I've been commissioned by my friend overseas to find him a cheap apartment in New York.
to give the order that places a warship, military command, etc., in a state of complete readiness for active duty.
to give a commission or order for: The owners commissioned a painting for the building's lobby.
Idioms about commission
in commission,
in service.
in operating order: A great deal of work will be necessary to put this car in commission again.
Also into commission. Navy. (of a ship) manned and in condition for or ordered to active service.
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.
out of commission,
not in service: Telephone lines were out of commission for several days after the storm.
not in operating order: Sorry, but I can't bake cupcakes for you while the stove is out of commission.
Origin of commission
1Other words from commission
- 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
Words that may be confused with commission
- commission , omission
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use commission in a sentence
Within are commissions from contemporary artists like Olafur Eliasson, Ellsworth Kelly, and Taryn Simon.
The subject of a dozen-odd panels, commissions, marathon negotiating sessions?
Thanks to the spotlight of the Pritzker, Ban will likely take on other similarly high-profile and large-scale commissions.
Jesse worked at a Sparks auto-parts shop for $20 a day plus commissions.
City and state veterans commissions allowed conditions at the Phoenix VA to go unchecked.
The VA Crisis Can’t Be Solved by Washington, D.C. Alone. Local Authorities Need to Step Up. | Kristen Rouse | June 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Later in the year commissions were issued to try the rioters at Nottingham and Derby.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. | E. Farr and E. H. NolanListen, Mr. Garford, said Drinkwater desperately, his eyes flashing greedily with the thought of escaping commissions.
The Woman Gives | Owen JohnsonMoses quakes before that awful voice out of the midst of the bush, which commissions him to deliver his brethren.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume II | John LordWhile he was working commissions poured in and Robinson's price rose, the demand for him being greater than the supply.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend | Charles ReadeWe have many splendid officers in the service who took the same path to commissions.
Uncle Sam's Boys as Lieutenants | H. Irving Hancock
British Dictionary definitions for commission
/ (kəˈmɪʃən) /
a duty or task committed to a person or group to perform
authority to undertake or perform certain duties or functions
a document granting such authority
military
a document conferring a rank on an officer
the rank or authority thereby granted
a group of people charged with certain duties: a commission of inquiry
a government agency or board empowered to exercise administrative, judicial, or legislative authority: See also Royal Commission
the authority given to a person or organization to act as an agent to a principal in commercial transactions
the fee allotted to an agent for services rendered
the state of being charged with specific duties or responsibilities
the act of committing a sin, crime, etc
something, esp a sin, crime, etc, that is committed
good working condition or (esp of a ship) active service (esp in the phrases in or into commission, out of commission)
US the head of a department of municipal government
(tr) to grant authority to; charge with a duty or task
(tr) military to confer a rank on or authorize an action by
(tr) to equip and test (a ship) for active service
to make or become operative or operable: the plant is due to commission next year
(tr) to place an order for (something): to commission a portrait
Origin of commission
1Derived forms of commission
- commissional or commissionary, adjective
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
Cultural definitions for commission
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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with commission
see in commission; on commission; out of commission.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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