Words / B2

k-uh-MISH-uh-n-uh/kəˈmɪʃənə/

A commissioner is a senior official in charge of a public body, police force, or government role: a police commissioner, an EU commissioner. Commission (already in the dictionary) is the body, the task, or a fee. Officer is everyday and lower rank. In speech, a senior official is enough. Do not call a shop manager a commissioner, and do not confuse the person with a commission (a fee or an order to do work).

Meaning

A senior official in charge of a government department, police force, or public body.

Examples

• “The police commissioner resigned after the inquiry.”
• “The information commissioner ruled on the data complaint.”
• “The police commissioner faced questions the chief constable would once have taken.”

Good to know

A senior public official. Everyday: senior official. Mix-up: commission = body / fee / task. Not a shop manager.

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