commissioner

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An official who heads a government department or public body, such as a police force.

   The police commissioner held a press conference about the rising crime rate.

2. 2
   noun

   A member of an official committee or commission.

   She served as a commissioner on the city planning board for six years.

3. 3
   noun

   A person who officially asks for and pays for a piece of work, such as a painting.

   As the commissioner of the portrait, he chose to keep the copyright for himself.

From Middle English commissioner, from Anglo-Norman commissionaire, from Medieval Latin commissiōnārius. Doublet of commissionaire. See commission.

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