WordGarden.iocommissioner
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /kəmˈɪʃənə/
US
- /kəˈmɪʃənər/
Meanings
Noun
a public official who is a member of a commission or heads a government department
the chief administrator of a sports league or competition
a person appointed by a court or authority to carry out a specific legal or official duty
More meaningsFewer meanings
a person or organization that orders and pays for a piece of work to be made
Beyond the definition
A commissioner is someone who's been given official authority to oversee a specific area—think of a police commissioner ensuring public safety, or a parks commissioner looking after green spaces. It's often a position appointed by a larger governing body. You might also hear about "commissioners" in sports leagues, where they are responsible for enforcing rules and maintaining fair play.
The word suggests someone with the power to make decisions and enforce them within their designated realm. They aren't usually doing the groundwork themselves, but rather ensuring it gets done correctly. A fishing commissioner might set limits on how many fish people can catch, while a film commissioner works to attract movie productions to a city.
The word "commissioner" refers to a person who has been officially appointed or elected to carry out a specific duty or oversee a particular area of responsibility. It's a role that implies authority and the power to make decisions, often within a larger organization or government structure.
Historically, "commissioner" stemmed from the idea of being entrusted with a "commission"—a formal written order authorizing someone to perform a task. Think back to medieval times when kings would send out commissioners to manage affairs in distant lands!
Today, you'll find commissioners in many different contexts. A police commissioner is responsible for leading and managing a police force. A city commissioner might oversee departments like parks, sanitation, or public works. In sports, a league commissioner enforces rules and ensures fair play across all teams. There are even election commissioners who manage the integrity of the voting process.
The role often involves setting policies, resolving disputes, and ensuring compliance with regulations. While they may not be directly involved in every day-to-day operation, they hold significant power to influence outcomes within their area of responsibility. You might hear about a commissioner investigating complaints or issuing fines for violations.
So, whether it's public safety, urban planning, or the world of professional sports, a commissioner is someone entrusted with authority and tasked with overseeing a specific domain—ensuring things run smoothly and according to the rules.
Examples
- 1
Police leadership
The police commissioner spoke to reporters outside the station.
- 2
Sports league
Fans wanted the league commissioner to change the playoff rules.
- 3
Government appointment
The governor appointed her commissioner of education.
- Patternappoint someone commissioner
give someone that official job
- 4
Trade office
As European Commissioner for Trade, he met with leaders from both countries.
- Patterncommissioner for + area
official responsible for that area
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Local government
The county commissioners approved the new bridge project.
- Domain
in local government, commissioners can be a group of elected officials
See also
Similar
- official
- administrator
- public official
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- private citizen
- subordinate
Used with (collocations)
- police commissioner
- county commissioner
- commissioner of education
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- commissionernoun
Forms
- commissionerspluralnoun