commodore

[ kom-uh-dawr, -dohr ]

/ ˈkɒm əˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr /

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noun

Navy. a grade of flag officer next in rank below a rear admiral.

British Navy. an officer in temporary command of a squadron, sometimes over a captain on the same ship.

Navy. the senior captain when two or more ships of war are cruising in company.

(in the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine) the officer in command of a convoy.

the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels.

the president or head of a yacht club or boat club.

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Origin of commodore

1685–95; earlier commandore, perhaps <Dutch komandeur<French commandeurcommander

Words nearby commodore

commodious, commoditize, commodity, commodity exchange, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, commodore, Commodus, common, commonable, commonage, Common Agricultural Policy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use commodore in a sentence

Gone, too, is Harry’s post as “commodore-in-chief, small ships and diving” in the Royal Navy.
Prince Harry and Meghan lose their patronages, won’t return as ‘working royals’|William Booth, Karla Adam|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
A motley crew of former sailors led by Commodore Joshua Barney mounted the only real resistance to the British.
The Presidential Hopeful Obsessed With the War of 1812|Ben Jacobs|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Examine photographs of Andrew Carnegie, J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Mellon, and Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Up To a Point: Robber Barons Make Way For Robber Nerds|P. J. O’Rourke|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Air commodore Houston was responding to results from the Australian ship Ocean Shield.
If They Are Ever Found, Flight 370’s Black Boxes Should Go to the U.S.|Clive Irving|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He joined the local Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club there and by 1977 had reached the membership rank of commodore.
The Billionaire and the Fugitive|Meir Doron, Joseph Gelman|July 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard—“the Commodore”—had a passion for all things naval.
Is Scientology's Wall Cracking?|Kim Masters|June 28, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Quite a good lot of bullets were plopping into the water, so the Commodore ordered the Colne to lie further out.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
The Commodore has offered me a passage in her, and has written to that purpose; but I am in no state to embark for a long voyage.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
British commodore Byron sailed from the Downs in the Dolphin, on his voyage round the world.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The Commodore means to go thither himself on the business, and I have no doubt all will be well and reasonably settled.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
The American expedition under commodore Perry arrived at Japan.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for commodore

commodore

/ (ˈkɒməˌdɔː) /

noun

British a naval rank junior to rear admiral and senior to captain

the senior captain of a shipping line

the officer in command of a convoy of merchant ships

the senior flag office of a yacht or boat club

Word Origin for commodore

C17: probably from Dutch commandeur, from French, from Old French commander to command

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012