on commission

Idioms  

1. Making money based on sales or services rendered, as in Real estate agents rarely get a salary; they work largely on commission. This use of the noun commission, which generally refers to a percentage of the total price, dates from the early 1700s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on commission

Ask if your adviser works on commission, fees or both.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026

Other advisers, including many at firms such as Morgan Stanley, UBS and Merrill, are paid on commission, and get what is known as a “trailing fee.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026

"But I'm paid only on commission, and the idea of no longer being able to afford to stay here -- that, yes, that scares me."

From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026

The UK's highest court sided with finance companies in two out of three crucial test cases focusing on commission payments made by banks and other credit providers to car dealers.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2025

Having someone like Darlene on commission was better than having her on salary.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole