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

Explanation

A commissary is a food and supply store for employees. On military bases, soldiers and their families shop in a commissary. The original commissaries were the military ones, from an earlier meaning of the word, "military official in charge of food supplies and transport." Today, many workplaces have commissaries where employees can buy prepared food, provisions, and sometimes equipment. Some factory laborers, miners, incarcerated people, and office workers shop at commissaries. And since Hollywood movie studios first opened in the early 20th century, they operated cafeterias on their lots, known as commissaries, for their employees.

Example Sentences

Building 178, originally opened in 1942, had included a bowling alley, commissary, tailor shop and even a disco.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2025

Hourlong lines to buy food at the commissary or to make a phone call.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2025

The next day, Sinodis said, his client’s commissary and phone accounts were zeroed out.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2025

The Commons has a commissary, a full-service restaurant, a theater complex and an event space for public and private meetings.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

The Continentals were paying off in commissary scrip, which would be totally worthless if they lost.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier