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Commissary: meaning, definitions and examples

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commissary

 

[ kəˈmɪsəri ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

military supply

A commissary is a store where military personnel and their families can purchase food and other goods at reduced prices. These stores are typically located on military bases and are operated by the military. The term can also refer to an official who is responsible for supplies or provisions in a military setting. In addition, commissaries might also provide certain services such as food preparation and delivery.

Synonyms

market, store, supply depot

Examples of usage

  • The soldiers were glad to find a commissary nearby for essentials.
  • She saved a lot of money shopping at the base commissary.
  • The commissary offers fresh produce and household items at low prices.
  • After training, they headed to the commissary for some snacks.

Translations

Translations of the word "commissary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 comissário

🇮🇳 आपूर्तिकर्ता

🇩🇪 Kommissar

🇮🇩 komisaris

🇺🇦 комісар

🇵🇱 komisarz

🇯🇵 コミッサリー

🇫🇷 commissaire

🇪🇸 comisario

🇹🇷 komiser

🇰🇷 위원회

🇸🇦 مفوض

🇨🇿 komisař

🇸🇰 komisár

🇨🇳 专员

🇸🇮 komisar

🇮🇸 umboðsmenn

🇰🇿 комиссар

🇬🇪 კომისარი

🇦🇿 komissar

🇲🇽 comisario

Etymology

The word 'commissary' comes from the Latin term 'commissarius,' which means 'a person entrusted with a mission.' This term evolved through the Old French 'commissaire' before entering the English language. Its original usage was related to agents or representatives who were delegated authority for specific tasks. In the context of military usage, the term began to refer specifically to those charged with the responsibility of supplying provisions. Over time, it became associated with stores on military installations that provide goods to service members and their families. The notion of a commissary has expanded beyond the military, and today it can be used more broadly to describe any store or shop that supplies goods or services.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,297, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.