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

Since becoming commissioner in 2019, Engelbert has led the WNBA into its most successful era. — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 24 July 2026

The owner of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC was a panelist sharing a stage with Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, FOX NFL Sunday host Curt Menefee and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. — Alex Zietlow july 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026

Later, a former commissioner at the agency admitted that during its streamlining or elimination of vetting procedures, the agency had hired drug cartel members into its ranks. — Meg Anderson, NPR, 23 July 2026

In a letter read to commissioners, Beatrice Brickell urged commissioners to keep the cottage in Brickell, suggesting it could be relocated to the city’s bayfront Brickell Park, where the family mausoleum is. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 23 July 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