ENGLISH
REFERENCE

commissioner

n.
US //kəˈmɪʃənɝ// UK //kəmˈɪʃənɐ// com·mis·sion·er
  1. 1 government or police official (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    a high-ranking official who is in charge of a government department or a police force.

    a senior official appointed to lead a government agency or a public service department, such as a police or fire service.

    Example

    The police commissioner promised to put more officers on the streets to improve safety.

    Example

    The newly appointed commissioner for public health addressed the assembly regarding the proposed changes to the vaccination schedule.

    Usage

    Often used as a title before a surname, such as Commissioner Gordon.
  2. 2 sports league head (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Sport

    the person in charge of a professional sports league.

    the highest-ranking executive official of a professional sports league, responsible for regulation and administration.

    Example

    The baseball commissioner announced new rules to make the games shorter.

    Example

    The league commissioner faced intense scrutiny from the media following his decision to suspend the star player for three games.
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  1. 3 European Union official (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    one of the senior officials who helps lead the European Union.

    a member of the European Commission, responsible for a specific policy area within the European Union.

    Example

    The European Commissioner for Trade is visiting Washington to discuss new tariffs.

    Example

    Each member state nominates a commissioner to the executive body, though they are expected to represent the interests of the Union as a whole.
  2. 4 member of a commission (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    a person who is part of a special group (a commission) chosen to do a specific job.

    a person who has been formally charged with a specific duty or is a member of a temporary investigative or administrative commission.

    Example

    She was appointed as a commissioner to investigate the cause of the building collapse.

    Example

    The commissioners spent six months gathering evidence before publishing their final report on the environmental impact of the new dam.
Origin

From Middle English commissioner, from Anglo-Norman commissionaire, from Medieval Latin commissiōnārius. Doublet of commissionaire. See commission.

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