commissary

noun

com·​mis·​sary ˈkä-mə-ˌser-ē 

-ˌse-rē

plural commissaries

1

: one delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office

2

a

: a store for equipment and provisions

especially : a supermarket for military personnel

b

: food supplies

c

: a lunchroom especially in a movie studio

commissarial

ˌkä-mə-ˈsär-ē-əl 

-ˈser-

adjective

Synonyms

• agent
• assignee
• attorney
• delegate
• deputy
• envoy
• factor
• minister
• procurator
• proxy
• rep
• representative

Examples of commissary in a Sentence

will serve as commissary of religious education for the whole diocese

Recent Examples on the Web

Studio commissaries, cafeterias and executive dining rooms long have been spaces to surreptitiously goggle at visiting talent as well as places to be seen with the powers that be for girding one’s position in the corporate pecking order. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024

On the business side of things, the Canteen also has a commissary with 12 rooms for food truck owners to rent with a kitchen and storage for cold food prep space. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2024

The reopening of the commissary in Pilsen, however, is still unclear. —Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2024

Sanli originally leased the nearby commissary kitchen for baking and preparing other foods for Lokl Haus and for event catering. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English commissarie, borrowed from Anglo-French commissaire, commissarie, borrowed from Medieval Latin commissārius, from Latin commissus (past participle of committere "to join together, engage, place in the keeping of, entrust, bring about") + -ārius -ary entry 1 — more at commit

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

commissary

noun

com·​mis·​sary ˈkäm-ə-ˌser-ē 

plural commissaries

1

: a person to whom a duty or office is entrusted by someone of higher rank

2

: a store that provides supplies (as food) especially to members of the military and their families