commissioner

American  

[kuh-mish-uh-ner] / kəˈmɪʃ ə nər /

noun

• commissioners
  plural

1. a person commissioned to act officially; member of a commission.

2. a government official or representative in charge of a department or district.

   the police commissioner; the commissioner of a colony.

3. an official chosen by an athletic association to exercise broad administrative or judicial authority.

   the baseball commissioner.

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commissioner British  

/ kəˈmɪʃənə /

noun

1. a person authorized to perform certain tasks or endowed with certain powers

2. government

   1. any of several types of civil servant

   2. an ombudsman See also Health Service Commissioner Parliamentary Commissioner

3. a member of a commission

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• commissionership
  noun
• subcommissioner
  noun
• subcommissionership
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• commissioners
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of commissioner

1400–50; late Middle English < Anglo-French. See commission, -er ²

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Explanation

The noun commissioner refers to someone in charge of a formal group or organization, such as a police commissioner or a baseball commissioner. As you might guess, commissioner is related to commission, which describes a group that carries out a particular function. Commissioner can describe an official who directs or regulates a commission, or it can be that person's title. For example, if Theodore Young is the housing commissioner, in formal situations you’d refer to him as Commissioner Young.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commissioner commissioners

Shana M. Broussard, the commissioner and acting chair of the Federal Election Commission, explains in Slate just how much money is being let into America’s federal elections.

From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026

Nor did he pardon a convicted embezzler, a San Francisco harbor commissioner, when the prospect of a $20,000 payoff was floated by the convict.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

EU food and agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen said at the time that "food security requires more attention at all levels".

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in the Indian capital, Delhi, for a mega opposition rally, seeking the resignation of chief election commissioner and electoral reforms.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

But a county commissioner called him right after the broadcast and talked to him for over an hour.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

Karim Webb, who served until February as one of Bass’ airport commissioners, said it’s been painful to see the mayor in such a vulnerable spot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Utility commissioners: Most interesting is Georgia, a data-center hot spot where two seats are up on the state’s utility regulator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Under the City Charter, those commissioners have the power to remove the police chief at any time prior to the expiration of the chief’s term.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

Restoring that trust won't be easy, nor will finding replacements for the current commissioners when their term comes to an end.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Late in November, a two-week inquiry was held by the police and fire commissioners concerning the fire.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy

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