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
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Philip Hydron, the commander of the agency’s Highway Patrol Division, signed off on the review. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2026 Rassvet had been in the works for years, but the timing of the first Rassvet launch the following month offered Russian military commanders hope of soon regaining access to ubiquitous satellite broadband through a domestic network. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026 Each jet had three senior captains onboard, Airlink said, operating in the roles of a commander, a co-pilot and a safety officer. — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Rather than immediately exposing maneuver forces to direct contact, Russian commanders typically first attempt to inflict sufficient losses on Ukrainian defenders to make the subsequent assault more manageable. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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