commissary

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

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

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

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Examples of commissary in a Sentence

will serve as commissary of religious education for the whole diocese

Recent Examples of commissary from the Web

The Suboxone, which fluctuates in price, is sold in the jail and money is put toward an inmates’ commissary or phone accounts, Jerousek said.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Strict mail inspection process aims to keep contraband, particularly drugs, out of Harford jail," 11 Apr. 2018
The home’s original owner, Elijah Lewis, was a Revolutionary War quartermaster under Jeremiah Wadsworth, the wealthy commissary general for the Continental Army.

— jordan otero sisson, Courant Community, "Farmington Historical Society Purchases Elijah Lewis House For New Headquarters," 2 Apr. 2018
That's his second place, a commissary in Madisonville where all their meats and sauces and soups are made and can be purchased for home.

— polly campbell, Cincinnati.com, "Mazunte, the popular local Mexican restaurant, to open in Kroger," 1 Mar. 2018
He's also received hundreds of dollars for his commissary account.

— CBS News, "Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz getting fan mail," 30 Mar. 2018
Cruz has also received around $800 worth of donations to his commissary account.

— anne branigin, The Root, "Alleged Parkland, Fla., Shooter Has Received Sexual Photos, Fan Mail and Hundreds of Dollars in Donations While Awaiting Trial: Report," 29 Mar. 2018
Mass murderer Nikolas Cruz is getting stacks of fan mail and love letters sent to the Broward County jail, along with hundreds of dollars in contributions to his commissary account.

— doreen christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Crazed girls flood Parkland school shooter Nicholas Cruz with fan mail," 28 Mar. 2018
The new location means five or ten more jobs in the commissary.

— polly campbell, Cincinnati.com, "Mazunte, the popular local Mexican restaurant, to open in Kroger," 1 Mar. 2018
Haenyo founders Collin Morstein and Irvin Seo plan to use sales generated through Uber Eats to cover rent at Share Kitchen, a commissary in Locust Point.

— sarah meehan, baltimoresun.com, "Delivery services make way for Baltimore's first 'ghost kitchens'," 12 Feb. 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

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First Known Use: 1555

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