WordGarden.iocommission
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /kəmˈɪʃən/
US
- /kəˈmɪʃən/
Meanings
Noun
a fee or percentage paid for selling or arranging something
an official group given authority to investigate, regulate, or manage something
an order for paid work, or the work produced from such an order
More meaningsFewer meanings
formal authority, rank, or assignment given to someone
the act of committing a crime or wrong
Verb
to hire or ask someone to produce a piece of work
to formally authorize a person or thing for official service
Beyond the definition
A "commission" can be several different things. It can be an official role or task. In the military, a commission means you are officially appointed as an officer and given rank and responsibility. It can also be the money you earn from sales, such as a real estate commission. Sometimes it is a group of people appointed to investigate or manage something—think of a city planning commission or a civil rights commission.
Imagine a painter receiving a commission to create a portrait; they are given a specific task and paid to complete it. Likewise, a salesperson earns a commission on every sale they make. Understanding the context will tell you which meaning is intended. You might hear about a "truth and reconciliation commission" investigating past wrongs, or a soldier receiving their commission as an officer.
The word "commission" has a surprisingly diverse range of meanings, all stemming from the idea of entrusting someone with a task, authority, or responsibility. At its core, it means something being entrusted or ordered.
Firstly, a commission can be an official order or authorization. This is common in military contexts: "He received his commission as a lieutenant," meaning he was officially appointed to that rank and given the authority to command. It can also refer to a formal request by a government for a specific task: "The state issued a commission to investigate the bridge failure."
Secondly, a commission is a payment earned based on sales or services. Real estate agents, insurance brokers, and salespeople often work on commission, receiving a percentage of each sale they finalize. This acts as a performance-based reward for completing the task of selling. "She earned a hefty commission on the luxury condo deal."
Thirdly, a commission refers to a group of people appointed to perform a specific function. These are typically official bodies tasked with investigating issues, making recommendations, or overseeing specific areas. Examples include an election commission or a human rights commission. "The commission released its findings after months of investigation."
Fourthly, in the arts, a commission is a request for a custom work, such as a painting, sculpture, or musical composition. In this case, the artist is hired to create something tailored to the client's specific needs.
Finally, the word is often used in the phrase "in or out of commission." If a ship, machine, or even a person is "out of commission," it means they are not in working order or are unable to perform their usual duties.
Whether it is an order, a payment, a group, or a creative request, a "commission" always implies a task being assigned with a specific authority or reward attached to its completion.
Examples
- 1
Sales earnings
She earns a commission on every car she sells.
- 2
Pay structure
Many real estate agents work on commission rather than a fixed salary.
- Phraseon commission
paid according to sales, not a fixed amount
- 3
Gallery fees
The gallery charges a 30 percent commission on every painting it sells.
- 4
Investigation body
The government appointed an independent commission to investigate the fire.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Paid report
The company commissioned a report on why so many employees were leaving.
- Patterncommission + work/report/project
officially ask for it and pay for it
- 6
Art project
The museum commissioned a local artist to create a sculpture for the entrance.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- commissionnounverb
Forms
- commissionedpast tenseverbnoun
- commissionspluralnounverb
- commissioning-ing formverbnoun