commander in chief

noun phrase

: one who holds the supreme command of an armed force

Examples of commander in chief in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Presidents have taken secret overseas trips in the past for security reasons, with schedules and logistics kept classified until after the fact to protect the commander in chief. — Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026

And as its commander in chief, the president decides when and how to deploy it. — Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026

First, Washington resigned as commander in chief of the Continental Army, then set the precedent of serving only two presidential terms before that limit was enshrined in the Constitution. — Calvin Woodward, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

Just last month, Anderson Cooper stood up for Collins after the commander in chief commented on her appearance while speaking with reporters at the White House. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for commander in chief

• beef
• brief
• fief
• grief
• leaf
• lief
• reef
• reif
• seif
• sheaf
• thief
• belief

Kids Definition

commander in chief

: one who holds the supreme command of an armed force