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commander

noun

com·​mand·​er kə-ˈman-dər How to pronounce commander (audio)
Synonyms of commandernext
1
: one in an official position of command or control: such as
b
: the presiding officer of a society or organization
2
: a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard ranking above a lieutenant commander and below a captain
commandership noun

Examples of commander in a Sentence

a surrender of the fort by the commander without a single shot having been fired the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Inks — who like Henry had taken a pay cut from the unionized position of commander to assume the role of chief — recently announced his decision to retire following shoulder surgery. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025 For roughly 41 minutes, Bradley and other commanders debated how to proceed as the men struggled to stay afloat. MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025 The drill is the second one after the Israel-Iran war in June that killed nearly 1,100 people in Iran, including military commanders and nuclear scientists. Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025 The incident commander on scene then declared the second working fire of the night as crews searched the house, officials said. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commander

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commander. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

commander

noun
com·​mand·​er kə-ˈman-dər How to pronounce commander (audio)
1
: one in official command especially of a military force or base
2
: a naval commissioned officer with a rank just below that of captain
commandership noun

More from Merriam-Webster on commander

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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