commander in chief

noun phrase

: one who holds the supreme command of an armed force

Examples of commander in chief in a Sentence

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.
This isn’t a Secret Service agent talking to the commander in chief. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025 He’s also become inseparable with the commander in chief—even popping up in Trump family photos at Mar-A-Lago. Joe Walsh, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 After the American people issued a mandate to our now commander in chief, the Trump administration hit the ground running. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025 Every special adviser to the president—everyone who works in the White House or for the executive branch with the exception of the commander in chief—is unelected. Zachary Karabell, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commander in chief

Word History

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of commander in chief was in 1654

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commander in chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commander%20in%20chief. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

commander in chief

: one who holds the supreme command of an armed force

More from Merriam-Webster on commander in chief

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!