commission

[ kuh-mish-uh n ]

/ kəˈmɪʃ ən /

noun

the act of committing or entrusting a person, group, etc., with supervisory power or authority.

an authoritative order, charge, or direction.

authority granted for a particular action or function.

a document granting such authority.

a document conferring authority issued by the president of the U.S. to officers in the Army, Navy, and other military services, and by state governments to justices of the peace and others.

the power thus granted.

the position or rank of an officer in any of the armed forces.

a group of persons authoritatively charged with particular functions: a parks commission.

the condition of being placed under special authoritative responsibility or charge.

a task or matter committed to one's charge; official assignment: The architect received a commission to design an office building.

the act of committing or perpetrating a crime, error, etc.: The commission of a misdemeanor is punishable by law.

something that is committed: He was held accountable for his evil commissions.

authority to act as agent for another or others in commercial transactions.

a sum or percentage of what has been paid that is allowed to agents, sales representatives, etc., for their services: In addition to her salary, she will get a 20 percent commission for each sale she makes.

verb (used with object)

to give a commission to: to commission a new graduate of a military academy with the rank of lieutenant.

to authorize; send on a mission: I've been commissioned by my friend overseas to find him a cheap apartment in New York.

to give the order that places a warship, military command, etc., in a state of complete readiness for active duty.

to give a commission or order for: The owners commissioned a painting for the building's lobby.

Idioms for commission

in commission,

in service.
in operating order: A great deal of work will be necessary to put this car in commission again.
Also into commission.Navy. (of a ship) manned and in condition for or ordered to active service.

on commission, paid entirely or partially with commissions from sales one has made or for work one has done: The salespeople who are on commission earn 6 percent of the total amount they sell.

out of commission,

not in service: Telephone lines were out of commission for several days after the storm.
not in operating order: Sorry, but I can't bake cupcakes for you while the stove is out of commission.

Origin of commission

1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin commissiōn- (stem of commissiō) a committing. See com-, mission, commit

OTHER WORDS FROM commission

com·mis·sion·a·ble, adjective com·mis·sion·al, adjective com·mis·sive, adjective com·mis·sive·ly, adverb

in·ter·com·mis·sion, noun re·com·mis·sion, noun, verb (used with object) sub·com·mis·sion, noun un·com·mis·sioned, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH commission

commission omission

Words nearby commission

commish, commissaire, commissar, commissariat, commissary, commission, commission for racial equality, commission house, commission merchant, commission plan, commissionaire

British Dictionary definitions for on commission

commission

/ (kəˈmɪʃən) /

noun

a duty or task committed to a person or group to perform

authority to undertake or perform certain duties or functions

a document granting such authority

military

a document conferring a rank on an officer
the rank or authority thereby granted

a group of people charged with certain duties a commission of inquiry

a government agency or board empowered to exercise administrative, judicial, or legislative authority See also Royal Commission

the authority given to a person or organization to act as an agent to a principal in commercial transactions
the fee allotted to an agent for services rendered

the state of being charged with specific duties or responsibilities

the act of committing a sin, crime, etc

something, esp a sin, crime, etc, that is committed

good working condition or (esp of a ship) active service (esp in the phrases in or into commission, out of commission)

US the head of a department of municipal government

verb

(tr) to grant authority to; charge with a duty or task

(tr) military to confer a rank on or authorize an action by

(tr) to equip and test (a ship) for active service

to make or become operative or operable the plant is due to commission next year

(tr) to place an order for (something) to commission a portrait

Derived forms of commission

commissional or commissionary, adjective

Word Origin for commission

C14: from Old French, from Latin commissiō a bringing together, from committere to commit

Cultural definitions for on commission

commission

A fee paid to a broker or other financial agent for negotiating a sale. The fee is based on a percentage of the sale price.

Idioms and Phrases with on commission (1 of 2)

on commission

Making money based on sales or services rendered, as in Real estate agents rarely get a salary; they work largely on commission. This use of the noun commission, which generally refers to a percentage of the total price, dates from the early 1700s.

Idioms and Phrases with on commission (2 of 2)

commission

see in commission; on commission; out of commission.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

commission

noun

verb (used with object)

Idioms for commission

Origin of commission

OTHER WORDS FROM commission

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH commission

Words nearby commission

British Dictionary definitions for on commission

noun

verb

Derived forms of commission

Word Origin for commission

Cultural definitions for on commission

Idioms and Phrases with on commission (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with on commission (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

commission

noun

verb (used with object)

Idioms for commission

Origin of commission

OTHER WORDS FROM commission

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH commission

Words nearby commission

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noun

verb

Derived forms of commission

Word Origin for commission

Cultural definitions for on commission

Idioms and Phrases with on commission (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with on commission (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for on commission