commanding officer

noun

: an officer in command

especially : an officer in the armed forces in command of an organization or installation

Synonyms of commanding officer

• commander
• commandant

Examples of commanding officer in a Sentence

He reported the incident to his commanding officer.

reported directly to the fort's commanding officer

Recent Examples on the Web

The incident occurred while Scheublin had authority over his victim as the commanding officer at the 46th Precinct, prosecutors said, outlining the encounter in detail. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026

Gabriel Edwards, the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5, was reported missing after the July 1 incident. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Soldiers submitted ballots to be counted and recorded by commanding officers, and their votes played an important role in the reelection of Abraham Lincoln. — Jamie Rowen, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

There were bigger, longer battles and other Native victories between March 1876 and June 1877, but Goodhouse said only the Battle of Greasy Grass — named by Native Americans for the slick grass along the river — gained national recognition because the commanding officer was killed. — ABC News, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

commanding officer

noun

: an officer having charge of a military or naval unit, organization, or base