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

At the time, commissioners cited concerns tied to the county’s controversial $42 million purchase of an office building, including allegations that an appraisal valuing the building significantly lower than the purchase price was not properly disclosed during the financing approval process. —Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2026

Down-ballot races for the Georgia PSC, agriculture commissioner and Supreme Court could also have major statewide impact. —CBS News, 19 May 2026

Two candidates, a county commissioner and a political consultant, are running in the district’s Republican primary. —ABC News, 19 May 2026

The meeting in San Clemente will provide commissioners with an opportunity to hear from the public and stakeholders on the proposal, though the commission will not make a decision at this time. —Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 19 May 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