commission

1 of 2

noun

com·​mis·​sion kə-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce commission (audio)
plural commissions
1
a
: a formal written warrant granting the power to perform various acts or duties
b
: a certificate conferring military rank and authority
also : the rank and authority so conferred
received a lieutenant's commission in the army
2
a
: an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts : charge
a commission to serve as notary public
b
: a formal request to produce something (especially an artistic work) in exchange for payment
… he found his footing as a Western artist when he received a commission in 1958 to create two … paintings …William Grimes
also : a work produced by commission
… the play was a commission of the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis … Sharon Eberson
3
a
: authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another
… had summoned all the clans which acknowledged his commissionT. B. Macaulay
b
: a task or matter entrusted to one as an agent for another
executed a commission for me while he was in Singapore
4
a
: a group of persons directed to perform some duty
The state set up a commission to study the proposed merger of the school districts.
b
: a government agency having administrative, legislative, or judicial powers
regulatory powers exercised by the Federal Trade Commission
c
: a city council having legislative and executive functions
She served on the city's water commission.
5
: an act of committing something
commission of a crime
6
: a fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service
especially : a percentage of the money received from a total paid to the agent responsible for the business
He gets a commission for each car he sells.
7
: an act of entrusting or giving authority
the commission of limited powers to the administrator

commission

2 of 2

verb

commissioned; commissioning kə-ˈmi-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce commission (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to furnish with a commission: such as
a
: to confer a formal commission on
was commissioned lieutenant
b
: to appoint or assign to a task or function
was commissioned to do the biography
2
: to order to be made
commissioned a portrait
3
: to put (a ship) in commission
The ship was commissioned in 2004.
Phrases
in commission or into commission
1
: under the authority of commissioners
2
of a ship : ready for active service
3
: in use or in condition for use
The Internet connection is back in commission.
on commission
: with commission serving as partial or full pay for work done
an artist working on commission
out of commission
1
: out of active service or use
The ferry was put out of commission because of the bad weather.
2
: out of working order
The elevator was out of commission.

Examples of commission in a Sentence

Noun She served on the city's water commission. Both states set up commissions to examine their public schools. She gets a commission for each car she sells. The salespeople in that store all work on commission. a weapon used in the commission of a crime Verb A portrait of the queen was commissioned. The magazine commissioned a story about the world's best beaches. The report on poverty was commissioned by the governor. The king commissioned the artist to paint his portrait. She was commissioned in the Navy as a captain. The ship was commissioned in 2004.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And if a drink with friends turns into a new bespoke commission? Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 4 Mar. 2024 Vestager warned that the commission would be carefully scrutinizing how Apple follows the new rules. Kelvin Chan, Fortune Europe, 4 Mar. 2024 Ultimately, the zoning commission followed suit, unanimously recommending the council deny the rezoning proposal. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2024 The Apollo Chamber Players paired his work with a new commission by composer and performer Allison Loggins-Hull. Neda Ulaby, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024 Peter Finn — president of the Teamsters Joint Council 7, a union that represents freight and delivery truck drivers — said the commission’s decision comes less than a month after Waymo issued a recall because of a software issue. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Especially when the speech has no connection to the commission’s business, Graunke said. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024 The commission will also decide on a $125 fee for drivers who let their parking meters expire. Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 Members of city boards and commissions are volunteers. Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
Fox News will commission a six-part series about Biden’s cognitive decline, led by mental-health experts like Sean Hannity and Jesse Watters, while blithely ignoring Trump’s frequent mistakes and misstatements — the unintentional ones — or writing them off as part of his folksy charm. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 New ship: On Oct. 25, 2019, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Cincinnati combat ship. Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2024 Colorful art and whimsical illustrations — specially commissioned for the book — tie everything together. Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2024 Sargent even commissioned the most prominent couture houses of the time to make dresses for his sitters on occasion. Leah Dolan, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 In 1991, the marque commissioned Mahlangu to paint a BMW 525i Art Car, which later competed at 24 Hours of Le Mans racing. Nargess Banks, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Years ago, New Jersey officials commissioned Sparks to portray Tubman during a two-week, 180-mile trek across the state that retraced parts of the Underground Railroad. Donna M. Owens, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 To create its report, Lee & Low commissioned a survey of more than 190 companies, including large and smaller publishing houses, university presses, literary agencies and review journals, and analyzed responses from more than 8,640 people. Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 The group has commissioned surveys that show the value of banding together — even something as simple as using the acronym SELA. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commission.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English commissioun "delegated authority, warrant delegating authority," borrowed from Anglo-French commission, borrowed from Medieval Latin commissiōn-, commissiō "commitment, entrusting, grant of authority," going back to Late Latin, "joining, engagement, sin," going back to Latin, "commencement of a game," from committere "to join together, engage, place in the keeping of, entrust, bring about" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at commit

Verb

derivative of commission entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of commission was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near commission

Cite this Entry

“Commission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commission. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

commission

1 of 2 noun
com·​mis·​sion kə-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce commission (audio)
1
a
: an order granting the power to perform various acts or duties
b
: a certificate that gives military rank and authority
also : the rank and authority so given
2
a
: authority to act as agent for another
b
: a matter entrusted to an agent
3
: a group of persons directed to perform some duty
4
: an act of committing
commission of a theft
5
: a fee paid to an agent or employee for taking care of a piece of business
a 5% sales commission

commission

2 of 2 verb
commissioned; commissioning
-ˈmish-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to give a commission to
was commissioned lieutenant
commissioned to write the biography
2
: to order to be made
commissioned a portrait of himself
3
: to put (a ship) in commission

Legal Definition

commission

noun
com·​mis·​sion
1
: a formal written authorization to perform various acts and duties
a notary's commission
2
a
: authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another
b
: a task or matter entrusted to one as the agent for another
3
a
: a group of persons directed to perform a duty
b
usually capitalized : a government agency
Federal Trade Commission
see also agency
c
: a city council having legislative and executive functions
4
: an act of committing something
commission of the crime
5
: a fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service
especially : a percentage of the money received paid to the agent responsible for the business
commission transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on commission

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!