high commissioner
Americannoun
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a representative of one sovereign member of the Commonwealth of Nations in the country of another, having a rank and responsibilities generally similar to those of an ambassador.
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the chief of a special international commission or other organization.
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the head of government in a mandate, protectorate, possession, or the like.
noun
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the senior diplomatic representative sent by one Commonwealth country to another instead of an ambassador
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the head of an international commission
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the chief officer in a colony or other dependency
Etymology
Origin of high commissioner
First recorded in 1880–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
South Africa's high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, was also pictured with the duo and he has since been recalled.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday to renew Volker Turk's mandate as high commissioner for human rights for four years despite strong opposition from the United States, Russia and Israel.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Turk, an Austrian jurist, has served as high commissioner since October 2022.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
She also said it was a "disgrace" that the South African high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, had accompanied Zuma to the meeting with Gupta.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Appointed high commissioner for Canada in London, 1896.
From The Makers of Canada: Index and Dictionary of Canadian History by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
