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

Mexico’s first female president also serves as military commander in chief.

From Los Angeles Times

Nigeria’s president now asked if there was any way to reach and reason with America’s commander in chief, Nigerian officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal

There is one president, one commander in chief, one head coach, one conductor and typically one chief executive.

From The Wall Street Journal

But right now, he added, “it feels like we work for Russ Vought. He has centralized decision-making power to an extent that he is the commander in chief.”

From Salon

Today, the commander in chief can invoke the law in response to a call for help from state leaders, as George H.W.

From Los Angeles Times