# commissioner

/kəˈmɪʃənɝ/ (US) · /kəmˈɪʃənɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/commissioner
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. government or police official

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

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

- The police commissioner promised to put more officers on the streets to improve safety.
- 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. sports league head

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the person in charge of a professional sports league.

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

- The baseball commissioner announced new rules to make the games shorter.
- The league commissioner faced intense scrutiny from the media following his decision to suspend the star player for three games.

### 3. European Union official

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The European Commissioner for Trade is visiting Washington to discuss new tariffs.
- Each member state nominates a commissioner to the executive body, though they are expected to represent the interests of the Union as a whole.

### 4. member of a commission

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- She was appointed as a commissioner to investigate the cause of the building collapse.
- The commissioners spent six months gathering evidence before publishing their final report on the environmental impact of the new dam.

## Examples

- The police commissioner promised to reduce crime in the city.
- The league commissioner suspended the player for three games following a violation of the conduct policy.
- After the scandal, the government appointed an independent commissioner to investigate the department's hiring practices and ensure future transparency.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.