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.
Speaking to reporters, special counsel Cho Eun-suk said that Yoon and his military commanders tried to lure North Korea into mounting an armed aggression against the South, but this failed as Pyongyang did not resort to military force. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025 At the same time, Ukrainian forces continue to resist the Russian offensive aimed at taking the key hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, the military’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Saturday. Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025 Sa'ad previously served as the Gaza Brigade commander and is regarded as one of the founders of Hamas' military wing, the IDF official told Fox News. Rachel Wolf , Yonat Friling, FOXNews.com, 13 Dec. 2025 Also unlike past change-of-command ceremonies where the audience was packed with members of the Miami-Dade congressional delegation, top State Department officials, foreign diplomats, past SOUTHCOM commanders and the secretary of defense, that was not the case Friday. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 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

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Cite this Entry

“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commander. Accessed 20 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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