commander in chief

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noun, plural commanders in chief.

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.

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

RELATED WORDS

president, generalissimo, shogun

Nearby words

Origin of commander in chief

First recorded in 1635–45

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for commander in chief

Philip Breedlove, NATO commander-in-chief, says this represents a shift, "from engagement to preparedness."
Shocked by Ukraine Violence, NATO Prepares to Face Down Putin|Leo Cendrowicz|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am also aware, however, that the average Supreme Court justice or federal judge serves far longer than the Commander-in-Chief.
Why Women Should Forget the White House|Keli Goff|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Though the commander-in-chief should delegate as much as possible, wartime relationships matter.
How Obama Lost Afghanistan|Elise Jordan|April 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For this raid, Mavrokordato anointed him, rather ridiculously, Archistrategos or commander-in-chief of Western Greece.
Poet and Rake, Lord Byron Was Also an Interventionist With Brains and Savvy|Michael Weiss|February 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He was trying—forgive this Gergenism—to pass the commander-in-chief test to centrist voters.
Debate III: Obama Wins, But Does It Do Him Any Good?|Michael Tomasky|October 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
When Constantine was appointed its commander-in-chief, the Polish army ranked with the bravest in Europe.
Incidents of Travel in Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Poland, 7th ed. Vol. 2 of 2|John Lloyd Stephens
Both mother and son had their Ktikiros or commander-in-chief, also titled Kamraviona, as well as other officers of high rank.
The Discovery of the Source of the Nile|John Hanning Speke
He is Commander-in-Chief, just come home, and just going out again.
The Greville Memoirs|Charles C. F. Greville
Traveller, saddled and bridled, was waiting and the commander-in-chief sprang into the saddle with all the agility of a young man.
The Shades of the Wilderness|Joseph A. Altsheler
The result, however, was a vote of the council complying with the requisition of the commander-in-chief.
The Loyalists of Massachusetts|James H. Stark

British Dictionary definitions for commander in chief

commander in chief

noun plural commanders in chief

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

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

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

Culture definitions for commander in chief

commander in chief

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.

commander in chief

noun, plural commanders in chief.

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of commander in chief

Examples from the Web for commander in chief

commander in chief

noun plural commanders in chief

commander in chief