commander in chief

American  

noun

plural

commanders in chief

1. Also Commander in Chief the supreme commander of the armed forces of a nation or, sometimes, of several allied nations.

   The president is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force.

2. an officer in command of a particular portion of an armed force who has been given this title by specific authorization.

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commander in chief British  

noun

1. the officer holding supreme command of the forces in an area or operation

2. the officer holding command of a major subdivision of one military service

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commander in chief Cultural  

1. The role of the United States president as highest ranking officer in the armed forces. The Constitution provides this power, but, through the system of checks and balances, gives Congress the authority to declare war. During periods of war, presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, George H. W. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush have taken active roles as commander in chief.

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Etymology

Origin of commander in chief

First recorded in 1635–45

Example Sentences

When Time magazine last week asked the commander in chief whether Americans should be worried about potential terrorist strikes at home, he replied, “I guess.”

From Los Angeles Times

Iran’s supreme leader serves as the country’s head of state, commander in chief of the armed forces and the highest authority in its political and religious system.

From The Wall Street Journal

He is the commander in chief of the armed forces and oversees other key institutions, such as the judicial branch and state media.

From Salon

But it hadn’t stuck, and because of that I’d failed the simulation again, and the daughter of the first-ever female commander in chief of the Glitch Academy wasn’t supposed to fail.

From Literature

But Ms. Rodríguez emerged unscathed and was immediately promoted, making her commander in chief of Venezuela’s armed forces and security forces.

From The Wall Street Journal