commissary

noun

com·​mis·​sary ˈkä-mə-ˌser-ē 

-ˌse-rē

plural commissaries

1

: one delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office

2

a

: a store for equipment and provisions

especially : a supermarket for military personnel

b

: food supplies

c

: a lunchroom especially in a movie studio

commissarial

ˌkä-mə-ˈsär-ē-əl 

-ˈser-

adjective

Synonyms of commissary

• deputy
• delegate
• representative
• agent
• manager
• attorney
• minister

Examples of commissary in a Sentence

will serve as commissary of religious education for the whole diocese

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, the money inmates pay to buy snacks and other items in the commissary covers the cost, something called the inmate welfare account. —Jermont Terry, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

The state-of-the-art complex has five sound stages, offices and other proper movie studio features such as a mill, commissary and base camp. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026

Starting Saturday night, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will be staffed by skeleton crews of keepers, veterinarians, and animal commissary workers who prepare animals’ diets in a large, restaurant-grade kitchen. —Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026

State dollars and profits from the Sacramento County Main Jail commissary will cover the remaining cost, according to the county’s resolution. —Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English commissarie, borrowed from Anglo-French commissaire, commissarie, borrowed from Medieval Latin commissārius, from Latin commissus (past participle of committere "to join together, engage, place in the keeping of, entrust, bring about") + -ārius -ary entry 1 — more at commit

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for commissary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

commissary

noun

com·​mis·​sary ˈkäm-ə-ˌser-ē 

plural commissaries

1

: a person to whom a duty or office is entrusted by someone of higher rank

2

: a store that provides supplies (as food) especially to members of the military and their families