commissioner

noun

com·​mis·​sion·​er kə-ˈmi-sh(ə-)nər 

: a person with a commission: such as

a

: a member of a commission

b

: the representative of the governmental authority in a district, province, or other unit often having both judicial and administrative powers

c

: the officer in charge of a department or bureau of the public service

d

: the administrative head of a professional sport

commissionership

kə-ˈmi-sh(ə-)nər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of commissioner in a Sentence

The baseball commissioner decided to suspend the players for 10 games.

Recent Examples on the Web

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison shared a legal opinion on 287(g) agreements in December, calling into question the agreements sheriffs have signed, saying only county commissioners can enter into the agreements. —Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026

But Flint encouraged people to attend the commissioners’ court meeting and speak against the Comanche Circle proposal. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2026

The special dedication came at the request of Doug Dickerson, a Yorba Linda Parks and Recreation commissioner and a retired city of Brea police captain who worked with Fincher. —Magda Liszewska, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026

Espinal, formerly a member of the State Assembly and a member of the New York City Council, will succeed Pat Kaufman as commissioner of MOME. —Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "person empowered to carry out defined duties," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin commissiōnārius, from commissiōn-, commissiō commission entry 1 + Latin -ārius -ary entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing commissioner

• high commissioner
• resident commissioner

Rhymes for commissioner

• conditioner
• parishioner
• petitioner
• positioner
• practitioner
• missioner

Kids Definition

commissioner

noun

com·​mis·​sion·​er kə-ˈmish-(ə-)nər 

1

: a member of a commission

2

: an official in charge of a government department

Police Commissioner

Legal Definition

commissioner

noun

com·​mis·​sion·​er

: a person with a commission: as

a

: a member of a commission

b

often capitalized : the officer in charge of a government agency

a police commissioner