commando

noun

com·​man·​do kə-ˈman-(ˌ)dō 

plural commandos or commandoes

1

South Africa

a

: a military unit or command of the Boers

b

: a raiding expedition

2

a

: a military unit trained and organized as shock troops especially for hit-and-run raids into enemy territory

b

: a member of such a unit

Phrases

go commando

slang : to wear no underwear

Examples of commando in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Musashi regularly rides jet skis and uses helicopter missiles like airborne surf boards, slicing up and exploding commandos and demons along the way. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025

In a plot that echoes that of their last film, The Beekeeper, Statham stars as an ex-commando who’s since turned a new leaf as a construction worker. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2025

In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara, the flagship of a flotilla crewed by a 600-strong alliance of pro-Palestinian activists, aid workers, politicians, and doctors. —Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025

Habib Diallo, a 60-year-old former army commando, said attending the sermons and discussions with the imam taught him about the risks of home births. —Arkansas Online, 24 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans kommando, from Dutch commando command, from Spanish comando, from comandar to command, from Late Latin commandare

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for commando

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

commando

noun

com·​man·​do kə-ˈman-dō 

plural commandos or commandoes

1

: a military unit trained and organized for surprise raids

2

: a member of a commando