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

• 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

These include groceries, commissaries, department stores, gas stations and convenience stores, the same services that many full service grocers provide for civilians. —Errol Schweizer, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

Her Lynwood site is the only one in the south suburbs with food truck parking and a commissary. —Francine Knowles, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025

They were made fresh in a commissary kitchen, and shipped out with cold packs. —Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 28 May 2025

The commissary area, which has seating, also includes a Dunkin Donuts. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2025

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