commander
noun
com·mand·er
kə-ˈman-dər 
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
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
Rodríguez, 56, is a powerful figure and longtime confidant of Maduro, and she has been backed thus far by Venezuela's military commanders.
—
CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Before he was promoted to deputy chief, Betancourt served as commander of CPD’s Ogden (10th) District, which covers the Little Village and North Lawndale neighborhoods.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
For her part, Machado posted on social media shortly after Maduro’s capture saying González should immediately assume the post of commander-in chief.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
But in face-to-face meetings, senior Danish military commanders say that neither Russia nor China currently present any significant military threat to Greenland.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
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.
CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Before he was promoted to deputy chief, Betancourt served as commander of CPD’s Ogden (10th) District, which covers the Little Village and North Lawndale neighborhoods.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
For her part, Machado posted on social media shortly after Maduro’s capture saying González should immediately assume the post of commander-in chief.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
But in face-to-face meetings, senior Danish military commanders say that neither Russia nor China currently present any significant military threat to Greenland.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
Cite this Entry
“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commander. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commander
noun
com·mand·er
kə-ˈman-dər
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share