Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense commissions, present participle commissioning, past tense, past participle commissioned
1. verb
If you commission something or commission someone to do something, you formally arrange for someone to do a piece of work for you.
The Ministry of Agriculture commissioned a study into low-input farming. [VERB noun]
You can commission them to paint something especially for you. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
...specially commissioned reports. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: appoint, order, contract, select More Synonyms of commission
Commission is also a noun.
Our china can be bought off the shelf or by commission.
Parliament has set up a commission to investigate football-related violence.
-commissionedcombining form in adjective
...Government-commissioned research.
2. countable noun
A commission is a piece of work that someone is asked to do and is paid for.
Just a few days ago, I finished a commission.
3. variable noun [oft onNOUN]
Commission is a sum of money paid to a salesperson for every sale that he or she makes. If a salesperson is paid oncommission, the amount they receive depends on the amount they sell.
The salespeople work on commission only.
He also got a commission for bringing in new clients.
Synonyms: fee, cut [informal], compensation, percentage More Synonyms of commission
4. uncountable noun
If a bank or other company charges commission, they charge a fee for providing a service, for example for exchanging money or issuing an insurance policy.
[business]
Travel agents charge 1 per cent commission on sterling cheques.
Sellers pay a fixed commission fee.
5. countable noun [with singular or plural verb]
A commission is a group of people who have been appointed to find out about something or to control something.
The authorities have been asked to set up a commission to investigate the murders.
...the Press Complaints Commission.
Synonyms: committee, board, representatives, commissioners More Synonyms of commission
6. uncountable noun
Thecommissionof a crime is the act of committing a crime.
[formal]
Anyone using a gun in the commission of a crime should be given an additional penalty.
7. countable noun
If a member of the armed forces receives a commission, he or she becomes an officer.
He accepted a commission as a naval officer. [+ as]
8. verb [usually passive]
If a member of the armed forces is commissioned, he or she is made an officer.
He was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Air Force. [beV-ed as n]
Only commissioned officers qualify for the Military Cross. [VERB-ed]
[Also beVERB-ed]
9.
See out of commission
10. See also High Commission
More Synonyms of commission
commission in British English
(kəˈmɪʃən)
noun
1.
a duty or task committed to a person or group to perform
2.
authority to undertake or perform certain duties or functions
3.
a document granting such authority
4. military
a.
a document conferring a rank on an officer
b.
the rank or authority thereby granted
5.
a group of people charged with certain duties
a commission of inquiry
6.
a government agency or board empowered to exercise administrative, judicial, or legislative authority
See also Royal Commission
7.
a.
the authority given to a person or organization to act as an agent to a principal in commercial transactions
b.
the fee allotted to an agent for services rendered
8.
the state of being charged with specific duties or responsibilities
9.
the act of committing a sin, crime, etc
10.
something, esp a sin, crime, etc, that is committed
11.
good working condition or (esp of a ship) active service (esp in the phrases inorinto commission, out of commission)
12. US
the head of a department of municipal government
verb
13. (transitive)
to grant authority to; charge with a duty or task
14. (transitive) military
to confer a rank on or authorize an action by
15. (transitive)
to equip and test (a ship) for active service
16.
to make or become operative or operable
the plant is due to commission next year
17. (transitive)
to place an order for (something)
to commission a portrait
Derived forms
commissional (comˈmissional) or commissionary (comˈmissionary)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin commissiō a bringing together, from committere to commit
commission in American English
(kəˈmɪʃən)
noun
1.
a.
an authorization to perform certain duties or tasks, or to take on certain powers
b.
a document giving such authorization
2.
authority to act in behalf of another
3.
that which a person is authorized to do for another
4.
the state of being authorized to perform certain duties or tasks
5.
an entrusting, as of power and authority, to a person or body
6.
the act of committing or doing; perpetration, as of a crime
7.
a.
a group of people officially appointed to perform specified duties
b.
an administrative agency of the government with quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers
c.
a type of municipal governing body
see also commission plan
8.
a fee or a percentage of the proceeds paid to a salesperson, broker, etc., either in addition to, or in lieu of, wages or salary
9. Military
a.
an official certificate conferring rank; specif., a document issued by the government, making one a commissionedofficer in the U.S. armed forces
b.
the rank or authority conferred
verb transitive
10.
to give a commission to
11.
to give power or authority to; authorize
12.
to give an order for (a thing to be made or done)
13.
to put (a vessel) into service
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈauthorˌize
Idioms:
in commission
out of commission
Word origin
ME & OFr < ML commissio, delegation of business (in L, a bringing together in a contest) < L commissus, pp. of committere: see commit
commission in Finance
(kəmɪʃən)
noun
(Finance: Investment, Stocks)
Commission is payment to a broker of part of the profits from a sale.
Travel agents charge 1 percent commission on tickets.
The salespeople work on commission only.
Commission is payment to a broker of part of the profits from a sale.
commission in Insurance
(kəmɪʃən)
noun
(Insurance: Sales and distribution)
If an insurance company pays commission to an intermediary, they pay them a fee for selling an insurance policy.
Insurance agents are paid a commission on a homeowner's insurance policy which is a percentage of the premium.
An agent may be employed by a particular insurance company to sell insurance policieson its behalf and handle claims, receiving a commission on sales.
If an insurance company pays commission to an intermediary, they pay them a fee for selling an insurance policy.
commission in Retail
(kəmɪʃən)
noun
(Retail: Management accounts)
Commission is payment of part of the revenues or profits from a sale or deal that is paid to the person who arranged or facilitated the deal.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ on
Travel agents charge 1 percent commission on tickets.
The salespeople work on commission only.
Commission is payment of part of the revenues or profits from a sale or deal that is paid tothe person who arranged or facilitated the deal.
commission in Accounting
(kəmɪʃən)
noun
(Accounting: Commerce)
Commission is payment of part of the revenues or profits from a sale or deal that is paid tothe person who arranged or facilitated the deal.
Travel agents charge 1 percent commission on tickets.
The salespeople work on commission only.
Commission is payment of part of the revenues or profits from a sale or deal that is paid tothe person who arranged or facilitated the deal.
Examples of 'commission' in a sentence
commission
Hell hath no fury like an arms dealer deprived of his commission.
Adam, Paul A NASTY DOSE OF DEATH (2003)
He worked his way through the ranks during the prewar years and when the war came swiftly gained a commission into the Intelligence Corps.
Forbes, Bryan A SONG AT TWILIGHT (2003)
But I'm sure he's going to ask for a five percent commission.
Patrick Robinson BARRACUDA 945 (2003)
In other languages
commission
British English: commission /kəˈmɪʃən/ NOUN
A commission is a piece of work that someone is asked to do and is paid for.
Our china can be bought off the shelf or by commission.
American English: commission
Arabic: عُمُولَة
Brazilian Portuguese: comissão
Chinese: 委任
Croatian: narudžba
Czech: zakázka
Danish: kommission
Dutch: opdracht
European Spanish: cometido
Finnish: toimeksianto
French: commission
German: Auftrag
Greek: παραγγελία
Italian: commissione organo
Japanese: 制作依頼
Korean: 의뢰
Norwegian: oppdrag
Polish: prowizja
European Portuguese: comissão
Romanian: comandă
Russian: заказанная работа
Latin American Spanish: comisión
Swedish: provision
Thai: งานที่ได้รับสั่งให้ทำ
Turkish: komisyon
Ukrainian: доручення
Vietnamese: tác phẩm đặt mua
British English: commission VERB
If you commission something or commission someone to do something, you formally arrange for someone to do a piece of work for you.
The Ministry of Agriculture commissioned a study into low-input farming.
American English: commission
Brazilian Portuguese: incumbir
Chinese: 委托
European Spanish: encargar
French: commander
German: in Auftrag geben
Italian: commissionare
Japanese: 委託する
Korean: 의뢰하다
European Portuguese: incumbir
Latin American Spanish: encargar
All related terms of 'commission'
in commission
entrusted to commissioners
commission fee
a fee paid to auctioneers , salespeople , etc, for their services
commission plan
(in the US) a system of municipal government that combines legislative and executive authority in a commission of five or six elected members
High Commission
A High Commission is the office where a High Commissioner and his or her staff work, or the group of officials who work there.
commission agent
a person who sells goods and services for a fee
commission house
a brokerage firm that buys and sells for customers on a commission basis
initial commission
Initial commission is commission that is paid to someone who sells or recommends a financial product for the first time.
Price Commission
(in Britain ) a commission established by the government in 1973 with authority to control prices as a measure against inflation . It was abolished in 1980
roving commission
authority or power given in a general area, without precisely defined terms of reference
Royal Commission
(in Britain) a body set up by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister to gather information about the operation of existing laws or to investigate any social, educational , or other matter. The commission has prescribed terms of reference and reports to the government on how any change might be achieved
sales commission
Sales commission is the percentage of the value of a sale that a sales associate or sales representative may earn .
trail commission
A trail commission is a further commission of between 0.1 and 1 percent that is paid to an advisor provided that the client ’s funds remain invested in the product for a specified time.
boundary commission
(in Britain) any of the bodies established by statute to undertake periodic reviews of the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies and to recommend changes to take account of population shifts
commission merchant
a person who buys or sells goods for others on a commission basis
Countryside Commission
(formerly in Britain ) a body which co-ordinated government activity in England and Wales in relation to the countryside
European Commission
the executive body of the European Union formed in 1967, which initiates action in the EU and mediates between member governments
Forestry Commission
a British government department responsible for maintaining and expanding forests
out of commission
If something, for example a ship or a piece of equipment, is out of commission , it is broken and cannot be used until it is repaired .
commission a survey
If you carry out a survey , you try to find out detailed information about a lot of different people or things, usually by asking people a series of questions .
commission of inquiry
(in Britain) a group that is set up to investigate something
Atomic Energy Commission
(in the US) a federal board established in 1946 to administer and develop domestic atomic energy programmes
Civil Service Commission
an official body which regulates the wages and working conditions of civil servants and promotes their work
Federal Trade Commission
a U.S. federal agency whose duty is to investigate unfair methods of competition in business, fraudulent advertising , etc., and to restrain or prosecute those charged with such practices
Disability Rights Commission
(formerly in Britain) a body appointed by the Government to enforce anti-discrimination law affecting people with disabilities ; replaced in 2007 by the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Manpower Services Commission
(in Britain , formerly) an organization providing training for adult workers
Press Complaints Commission
an independent body which has the job of investigating complaints from the public against newspapers for what they have published
State Services Commission
(in New Zealand ) a government-appointed body in charge of the public service
Galveston plan
(in the US) a system of municipal government that combines legislative and executive authority in a commission of five or six elected members
Commission for Racial Equality
(formerly in Britain) a body of fourteen members appointed to enforce the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976; replaced in 2007 by the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Federal Communications Commission
a U.S. federal agency whose duty is to regulate communication by telephone, telegraph , radio, TV, cable TV, and satellite
Independent Television Commission
the body that licenses and regulates all television services in Britain apart from the BBC
International Joint Commission
a joint US– Canadian federal government agency set up in 1909 to oversee the management of shared water resources (esp the Great Lakes–St Lawrence River system)
Interstate Commerce Commission
a federal commission created in 1887 to regulate commerce among the states: it has eleven members, appointed by the President
Monopolies and Mergers Commission
(formerly in Britain ) a government body that investigated business monopolies , mergers , and takeovers that were of public interest
Securities and Exchange Commission
a US federal agency established in 1934 to supervise and regulate issues of and transactions in securities and to prosecute illegal stock manipulations
the Federal Communications Commission
a body which oversees and regulates non-federal broadcast media in the United States, interstate , and international communications
Commission of the European Communities
the executive body of the European Union formed in 1967, which initiates action in the EU and mediates between member governments
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(in the US) a body appointed by the government to end employment discrimination
Equality and Human Rights Commission
(in Britain) a body appointed by the Government to enforce the provisions of the Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England
→ The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England
The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England
an organization, partly funded by government aid , that looks after ancient monuments and historic buildings in England