commissariat

[ kom-uh-sair-ee-uh t ]
/ ˌkɒm əˈsɛər i ət /

noun

any of the major governmental divisions of the U.S.S.R.: called ministry since 1946.
the organized method or manner by which food, equipment, transport, etc., is delivered to armies.
the department of an army charged with supplying provisions.

Origin of commissariat

1600–10; < New Latin commissāriātus, equivalent to Medieval Latin commissāri(us) commissary + -ātus -ate3; (def 1) < Russian komissariát ≪ New Latin, as above

Words nearby commissariat

commis, commiserate, commish, commissaire, commissar, commissariat, commissary, commission, commission for racial equality, commission house, commission merchant

Example sentences from the Web for commissariat

British Dictionary definitions for commissariat

commissariat
/ (ˌkɒmɪˈsɛərɪət) /

noun

(in the former Soviet Union) a government department before 1946 Now called: ministry
  1. a military department in charge of food supplies, equipment, etc
  2. the offices of such a department
food supplies

Word Origin for commissariat

C17: from New Latin commissāriātus, from Medieval Latin commissārius commissary