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

Meanwhile, she’s tormented by the knowledge that Hadley was only 20 or so paces from the safety of the Mystic commissary, if only she’d left her cabin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2025

To make way for the Campus Project, NBCUniversal demolished the old commissary, a sound-mixing facility and other structures.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

As Erewhon has increased its footprint around Los Angeles County, it has expanded and relocated its commissary every few years to keep up.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2025

“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 "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood