commissioned officer

American  

noun

1. a military or naval officer holding rank by commission.

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commissioned officer British  

noun

1. a military officer holding a commission, such as Second Lieutenant in the British Army, Acting Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force, and officers of all ranks senior to these

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commissioned officer Cultural  

1. An officer of a country's armed services whose rank is confirmed by a government document (a commission). In many countries, including the United States, commissioned officers in the navy are those of the rank of ensign and above, and in the army and air force those of the rank of lieutenant and above.

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Commissioned officers are contrasted with enlisted men and women, such as privates, corporals, and sergeants, or ordinary seamen and petty officers.

Etymology

Origin of commissioned officer

First recorded in 1675–85

Compare meaning

How does commissioned-officer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• warrant officer vs. commissioned officer

Example Sentences

A telegraphed order to the commander of the Sixteenth New York Cavalry ordered a commissioned officer, Lieutenant Edward P. Doherty, to report to Luther Byron Baker.

From Literature

VMI has said over the years that it’s one of the highest producers of minority commissioned officers.

From Seattle Times

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told newly commissioned officers at the U.S.

From Washington Times

The academy in Annapolis educates more than 4,400 midshipmen who graduate as commissioned officers in the Navy or Marine Corps.

From Washington Post

The current police chief is Black, as are about 58 percent of the department’s commissioned officers.

From New York Times