commanding officer

noun

1. Army.,  a commander of any rank from second lieutenant to colonel.

commanding officer

noun

1. an officer in command of a military unit

Word History and Origins

Origin of commanding officer¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

As well as the generals, the audience comprised the senior-most enlisted officers from various US units around the world - meaning the individuals who serve as a commanding officer's main personnel adviser for their respective units.

From BBC

And commanding officer Effie Defrin, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Force, told reporters that most of the images were fake and distributed by Hamas.

From Los Angeles Times

The deputy leader of Reform UK has hit back after being branded "pathetic" by an MP over comments he made about the female commanding officer of an RAF base.

From BBC

"We heard some of our Triples were already killed by the Taliban," said Jumakhan Joya, a former Afghan special forces commanding officer.

From BBC

"I asked my old commanding officer about it and he said it was because everyone was fed up. It was six years of war and it was such a huge relief when VE Day came."

From BBC

Related Words

• commandant 
• commander