commander

noun

com·​mand·​er kə-ˈman-dər How to pronounce commander (audio)
1
: one in an official position of command or control: such as
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 noun

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.
The Lost in Space ship was piloted by Guy Williams as the expedition commander and Lockhart's onscreen husband, Professor John Robinson, and Mark Goddard's Major West. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025 Still, the commander-in-chief can authorize military force without Congress, but only in response to an imminent threat. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025 Then, with touchdown imminent, evacuations in full swing, and everyone waiting for orders from the commander-in-chief, the clock is suddenly reset. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025 Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, commander of US Army Central, was selected to head the military arm of the Coordination Center. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commander. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on commander

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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