commission

verb

commissioned; commissioning kə-ˈmi-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with a commission: such as

a

: to confer a formal commission on

was commissioned lieutenant

b

: to appoint or assign to a task or function

was commissioned to do the biography

2

: to order to be made

commissioned a portrait

3

: to put (a ship) in commission

The ship was commissioned in 2004.

Synonyms of commission

• appoint
• delegate

Examples of commission in a Sentence

A portrait of the queen was commissioned.

The magazine commissioned a story about the world's best beaches.

The report on poverty was commissioned by the governor.

The king commissioned the artist to paint his portrait.

She was commissioned in the Navy as a captain.

The ship was commissioned in 2004.

Recent Examples on the Web

The submarine’s final battle USS Herring was a Gato-class submarine launched in January 1942 and commissioned in May of the same year. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026

Creating the first navy Washington, commissioned by Congress as commander in chief of all American armed forces in June 1775, saw an opportunity. —Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 2 June 2026

The hotel had a special statue commissioned to honor its 20th anniversary. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026

Artists First’s Principato will commission and participate in all three upcoming titles, sources said. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

derivative of commission entry 1

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing commission

• commission merchant
• commission plan
• in commission
• into commission
• on commission
• out of commission
• sub-commission

Rhymes for commission

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• condition
• contrition
• dentition
• dismission

Kids Definition

commission

1 of 2 noun

com·​mis·​sion kə-ˈmish-ən 

1

a

: an order granting the power to perform various acts or duties

b

: a certificate that gives military rank and authority

also : the rank and authority so given

2

a

: authority to act as agent for another

b

: a matter entrusted to an agent

3

: a group of persons directed to perform some duty

4

: an act of committing

commission of a theft

5

: a fee paid to an agent or employee for taking care of a piece of business

a 5% sales commission

commission

2 of 2 verb

commissioned; commissioning

-ˈmish-(ə-)niŋ

1

: to give a commission to

was commissioned lieutenant

commissioned to write the biography

2

: to order to be made

commissioned a portrait of himself

3

: to put (a ship) in commission

Legal Definition

commission

noun

com·​mis·​sion

1

: a formal written authorization to perform various acts and duties

a notary's commission

2

a

: authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another

b

: a task or matter entrusted to one as the agent for another

3

a

: a group of persons directed to perform a duty

b

usually capitalized : a government agency

Federal Trade Commission

see also agency

c

: a city council having legislative and executive functions

4

: an act of committing something

commission of the crime

5

: a fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service

especially : a percentage of the money received paid to the agent responsible for the business

commission transitive verb