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

There will be no central dining hall, but there will be a commissary for staff, which will serve more than 2,000 workers by the time all four towers, built in phases, are complete. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

The trustee overseeing that trust has authorized limited payments to fund previous legal bills and Reiner’s jail commissary account, but has held off on allowing a more sizable outlay. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026

Together, these two men stood under the awning of Li Shan’s commissary and watched Noe’s boys shovel their catch from the hold of the lugger into baskets on the wharf. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

This is the only way many people can buy essential food and hygiene products from the commissary — yet another way CoreCivic profits. — Brady Tillett, Twin Cities, 7 July 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
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

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