commissioner

noun

com·​mis·​sion·​er kə-ˈmi-sh(ə-)nər 

: a person with a commission: such as

a

: a member of a commission

b

: the representative of the governmental authority in a district, province, or other unit often having both judicial and administrative powers

c

: the officer in charge of a department or bureau of the public service

d

: the administrative head of a professional sport

commissionership

kə-ˈmi-sh(ə-)nər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of commissioner in a Sentence

The baseball commissioner decided to suspend the players for 10 games.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lincoln County commissioners are scheduled to vote Monday on a Charlotte developer’s proposed 600-home mega community near Lake Norman that neighbors panned at a public hearing. — Charlotte Observer, 19 Sep. 2026

One candidate faceoff was between former Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Heather Moraitis and lawyer John Rodstrom III (both of his parents also served as city commissioners). — Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

Lamont has expressed confidence in the current roster of PURA commissioners, who took over last year following the resignation of the agency’s controversial former leader, Marissa Gillett. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Still, the administrators, the commissioners and league presidents must recognize that if trade wars devolve into something more hateful and restrictive, team owners may find their golden goose has fallen into the crockpot. — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "person empowered to carry out defined duties," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin commissiōnārius, from commissiōn-, commissiō commission entry 1 + Latin -ārius -ary entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing commissioner

• high commissioner
• resident commissioner

Rhymes for commissioner

• conditioner
• parishioner
• petitioner
• positioner
• practitioner
• missioner

Kids Definition

commissioner

noun

com·​mis·​sion·​er kə-ˈmish-(ə-)nər 

1

: a member of a commission

2

: an official in charge of a government department

Police Commissioner

Legal Definition

commissioner

noun

com·​mis·​sion·​er

: a person with a commission: as

a

: a member of a commission

b

often capitalized : the officer in charge of a government agency

a police commissioner