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

But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Pham moved into the Mid City Kitchen space, which is home to a commissary kitchen during the day and now serves as Khue’s in the evening. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 15 May 2025

Though there is no internet access, inmates can watch movies and listen to music on tablets purchased from the commissary. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 12 May 2025

Wake and Late perfected the breakfast burrito formula, then spread quickly, with a large commissary kitchen and cafe in Pasadena and locations all over the city. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025

McGhee’s mother had purchased pizza and hamburgers for him from the jail’s commissary. —Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for commissary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

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