commissary

American  

[kom-uh-ser-ee] / ˈkɒm əˌsɛr i /

noun

plural

commissaries

1. a store that sells food and supplies to the personnel or workers in a military post, mining camp, lumber camp, or the like.

2. a dining room or cafeteria, especially one in a motion-picture studio.

3. a person to whom some responsibility or role is delegated by a superior power; a deputy.

4. (in France) a police official, usually just below the police chief in rank.

5. commissar.

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commissary British  

/ ˈkɒmɪsərɪ, ˌkɒmɪˈsɛərɪəl /

noun

1. a shop supplying food or equipment, as in a military camp

2. army an officer responsible for supplies and food

3. a snack bar or restaurant in a film studio

4. a representative or deputy, esp an official representative of a bishop

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Other Word Forms

• commissarial adjective
• commissaryship noun
• subcommissarial adjective
• subcommissary noun

Etymology

Origin of commissary

1350–1400; Middle English commissarie (< Anglo-French ) < Medieval Latin commissārius, equivalent to Latin commiss ( us ) (past participle of committere to commit ) + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Public grocery stores already exist in the form of commissaries on military bases.

From MarketWatch

“Cash for the commissary, are you mad? I asked for rolls and coffee, not a jewel-encrusted egg! Don’t you know who we are? We are the Babushkinovs! Our name is all the credit we need!”

From Literature

Their extra room became the commissary, to use an old Hollywood term.

From Los Angeles Times

The “kitty” is then resold, creating a secondary market within the jails that is cheaper than the commissary.

From Los Angeles Times

The line to buy food or hygiene products at the commissary was so long that sometimes detainees left empty-handed.

From Los Angeles Times