Commission

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kəˈmɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -ɪʃən

Origin

From Old French commission, from Latin commissio ("sending together; commission"), from prefix com- ("with"), + noun of action missio ("sending"), from perfect passive participle missus ("sent"), from the verb mittō (""), + noun of action suffix -io.

Full definition of commission

Noun

1. A sending or mission (to do or accomplish something).It was James Bond's commission to defeat the bad guys.
2. An official charge or authority to do something, often used of military officers.David received his commission after graduating from West Point.
• ShakespeareLet him see our commission.
3. The thing to be done as agent for another.I have three commissions for the city.
4. A body or group of people, officially tasked with carrying out a particular function.the European Commission; the Electoral Commission; the Federal Communications CommissionThe company's sexual harassment commission made sure that every employee completed the on-line course.
• PrescottA commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter.
5. A fee charged by an agent or broker for carrying out a transaction.a reseller's commissionThe real-estate broker charged a four percent commission for their knowledge on bidding for commercial properties; for their intellectual perspective on making a formal offer and the strategy to obtain a mutually satisfying deal with the seller in favour of the buyer .
6. The act of committing (e.g. a crime).the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism
• SouthEvery commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness.

Synonyms

• body of officials: committee, government body
• fee charged: brokerage

Derived terms

• commissioner
• European Commission
• out of commission

Verb

1. (transitive) To send or officially charge someone or some group to do something.James Bond was commissioned with recovering the secret documents.
• 2012, August 1. Owen Gibson in Guardian Unlimited, London 2012: rowers Glover and Stanning win Team GB's first gold medalStanning, who was commissioned from Sandhurst in 2008 and has served in Aghanistan, is not the first solider to bail out the organisers at these Games but will be among the most celebrated.
2. (transitive) To place an order for (often piece of art); as, commission a portrait.He commissioned a replica of the Mona Lisa for his living room, but the painter gave up after six months.
3. (transitive) To put into active service; as, commission a ship.The aircraft carrier was commissioned in 1944, during WWII.