commissary

C1 Topic:Food & Drink

US /ˈkɑːməˌseri/ UK /ˈkɒmɪsəri/ See IPA manual

Freq #26436

Meanings

1

noun
a store that supplies food and other goods to members of a military base, prison, or similar institution

The family bought groceries at the base commissary.
2

noun
an official entrusted with special administrative duties, especially supplying an army or representing a government

The provincial commissary assessed the district's taxes on behalf of the intendant.
3

noun
a food-service facility at a film studio or other workplace

The cast met for lunch in the studio commissary.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a store that supplies food... institutional storecanteen

2 noun · an official entrusted with... delegate commissionersupply officer

3 noun · a food-service facility at... cafeteria canteen

Word family

Forms commissaries

Derived forms commissarialcommissariat

Related forms commissioncommissarquartermaster

Etymology

From Late Latin commissarius, 'one entrusted with a duty,' based on Latin committere, 'to entrust.' The word first named a delegated official; military supply duties then gave rise to the American sense of a provisions store.

Topics

Food & Drink Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# commissary

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɑːməˌseri/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɒmɪsəri/
**Frequency rank:** 26436

## Meanings
1. a store that supplies food and other goods to members of a military base, prison, or similar institution
2. an official entrusted with special administrative duties, especially supplying an army or representing a government
3. a food-service facility at a film studio or other workplace

## Examples
- The family bought groceries at the base commissary.
- The provincial commissary assessed the district's taxes on behalf of the intendant.
- The cast met for lunch in the studio commissary.

## Synonyms
- institutional store
- canteen
- delegate
- commissioner
- supply officer

## Derived Forms
- commissarial
- commissariat

## Related Forms
- commission
- commissar
- quartermaster

## Etymology
From Late Latin commissarius, 'one entrusted with a duty,' based on Latin committere, 'to entrust.' The word first named a delegated official; military supply duties then gave rise to the American sense of a provisions store.

## Topics
- Food & Drink
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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