Word
commando
Phoneticscom·man·do, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈmænˌdoʊ/
UK/kəmˈændəʊ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a soldier who is trained to carry out quick, dangerous attacks in enemy territory. These soldiers often work in small groups and are highly skilled at fighting in difficult conditions.
n. a member of a specialized military unit trained for shock tactics and hit-and-run raids. Often used to describe elite light infantry forces that operate behind enemy lines.
Examples
“The commando crawled through the grass to reach the base.”
“Elite commando units were deployed under the cover of darkness to disable the enemy's radar installations.”
“The operation required a small team of commandos to infiltrate the coastal fortress, gather intelligence, and extract before the morning patrol arrived.”
Examples
simple
“The commando crawled through the grass to reach the base.”
contextual
“Elite commando units were deployed under the cover of darkness to disable the enemy's radar installations.”
complex
“The operation required a small team of commandos to infiltrate the coastal fortress, gather intelligence, and extract before the morning patrol arrived.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'commando raid' or 'commando tactics'.
Real-World Examples
“According to Jubaland authorities, Somali government and regional forces, including the US-trained Danab commando unit, launched operations against positions held by the armed group al-Shabab in villages surrounding the town.” “Like the Bush administration before it, the Obama administration white paper rejects any geographical restriction on where it can launch its drone strikes and commando raids.” Etymology
From Afrikaans kommando, from Portuguese comando (“command”), from Late Latin *commandare, from Latin commendare.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. go commando
The word in film
Commando · 1985 · Action
- Directed by:
- Mark L. Lester
- Starring:
- Alyssa Milano, Bill Paxton, George Fisher
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this 1980s action movie as a retired elite soldier who must rescue his kidnapped daughter. The title describes his background as a highly trained fighter capable of taking on an entire army by himself.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/commando