commissary

noun com·mis·sary \ ˈkä-mə-ˌser-ē , -ˌse-rē \

|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

Examples: commissary in a Sentence

Definition of commissary

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 motion-picture studio

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commissarial

play \ˌkä-mə-ˈsär-ē-əl, -ˈser-\ adjective

See commissary defined for English-language learners

See commissary defined for kids

Examples of commissary in a Sentence

will serve as commissary of religious education for the whole diocese

Recent Examples of commissary from the Web

Not only are periods prohibitively expensive – in part, due to price gouging of tampons by commissaries – but often a monthly source of humiliation, even abuse.

— refinery29.com, "Meghan Markle Has Championed Menstrual Equity — Here's Why You Should Too," 21 May 2018
There, 25 refugees, most of them women, work as catering chefs, producing the traditional dishes of their home countries from a commissary kitchen in Long Island City, Queens.

— tejal rao, New York Times, "A Festival Where Refugees Cook for New York," 14 June 2018
Detainees were only allowed to spend that pay at the commissary operated by CoreCivic, the complaint says.

— kate morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Judge allows case over alleged forced labor in immigration detention to move forward," 17 May 2018
GoFundMe campaigns raised money for their commissary and for their wives and children back home.

— leah sottile, Longreads, "Bundyville Chapter Four: The Gospel of Bundy," 18 May 2018
Inmates generally paid them with checks made out from their commissary accounts or with cash and money orders.

— jay weaver, miamiherald, "Inmates liked being served these legal papers. They were soaked with synthetic pot.," 31 May 2018
Because her family put money in her commissary, DaLuise could acquire small comforts, like a travel-sized bottle of Head & Shoulders shampoo and Neutrogena face soap to augment the lye bar.

— catherine womack, Los Angeles Magazine, "An L.A. Aesthetician Once Accused of Murder for Hire Is Now Offering “Killer Facials”," 15 May 2018
Edoardo Bacci, chef at the Bristol's catering kitchen, said the restaurant's been serving the appetizer since the late 1970s, and its commissary is now responsible for wrapping at least 1,000 wontons every day.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Eat like a true Louisvillian: These are the 5 foods all Kentucky Derby visitors must try," 30 Apr. 2018
This year’s special weekend, March 10 and 11, will feature areas including the aquatic and reptile center, winter quarters, the train shop and the commissary.

— jennifer diliberti-shea, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Go behind the scenes at the Milwaukee County Zoo to be educated and entertained," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'commissary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of commissary

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 ¹-ary — more at commit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1555

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year