commander

noun

com·​mand·​er kə-ˈman-dər How to pronounce commander (audio)
Synonyms of commandernext
1
: one in an official position of command or control: such as
a
: commanding officer
b
: the presiding officer of a society or organization
2
: a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard ranking above a lieutenant commander and below a captain
commandership
kə-ˈman-dər-ˌship How to pronounce commander (audio)
noun

Synonyms of commander

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Examples of commander in a Sentence

a surrender of the fort by the commander without a single shot having been fired the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, a Ukrainian commander interviewed by The War Zone described cable breakage, equipment fragility, and handling difficulties. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 Larry Baimbridge spent thirty-one years with the Houston Police Department, including stints as a homicide detective and as commander of the SWAT team. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 Tom Waits lends his feral baritone to a commander of a coyote military brigade. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026 The series begins with a prison bus pulling up to a correctional facility in Georgia, where the commander of jail operations, Major Boughner, announces how the 30 participants, 27 men and 3 women, will be divided. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commander

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of commander was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing commander

Rhymes for commander

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Browse Nearby Words

commandeer
commander
commander in chief
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Cite this Entry

“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commander. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

commander

noun
com·​mand·​er kə-ˈman-dər How to pronounce commander (audio)
1
: one in official command especially of a military force or base
2
: a naval commissioned officer with a rank just below that of captain
commandership
-ˌship How to pronounce commander (audio)
noun
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