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.
The release was accompanied by a statement from the commander of Ramat David Air Base describing recent missions flown deep into Iranian territory, including operations over the capital, Tehran. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026 Since the United States assassinated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020, Iran has attempted even more attacks. Colin P. Clarke, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026 The ranks of graduates from those campuses includes a host of current and retired commanders. Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 In January, the task force released a playbook to aid military installation commanders in their efforts to secure their assets from drones. James Laporta march 5, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 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 12 Mar. 2026.

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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