commodore

noun

com·​mo·​dore ˈkä-mə-ˌdȯr 

1

a

: a captain in the navy in command of a squadron

b

: a commissioned officer in the navy formerly ranking above captain and below rear admiral and having an insignia of one star

2

: the ranking officer commanding a body of merchant ships

3

: the chief officer of a yacht club or boating association

Examples of commodore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The high school club also operates with the blessing of Marlon Harvey, a 1980 Mount Carmel alum who now is commodore of the Jackson Park Yacht Club. —Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025

In February 1942, Alfred Stanford, commodore of the Cruising Club of America, one of the country’s leading amateur sailing groups, sent a proposal to the Navy to use nonmilitary sailing vessels for anti-submarine patrols and rescue operations. —David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025

But what stood out largely was the commodore amongst the stylish guests who trekked to the Fishtown neighborhood. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 6 Dec. 2024

At the Commodore Club, with its windows over the ship’s bow, the cocktails are named for past Cunard commodores. —Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably modification of Dutch commandeur commander, from French, from Old French comandeor, from comander to command

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing commodore

• air commodore

Rhymes for commodore

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore
• heretofore

Kids Definition

commodore

noun

com·​mo·​dore ˈkäm-ə-ˌdō(ə)r 

-ˌdȯ(ə)r

1

: a naval commissioned officer with a rank just below that of rear admiral

2

: the senior captain of a line of merchant ships