commission Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a special group delegated to consider some matter
    committee.
    • a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle
  2. noun a fee for services rendered based on a percentage of an amount received or collected or agreed to be paid (as distinguished from a salary)
    • he works on commission
  3. noun the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
    commissioning.
  4. noun the state of being in good working order and ready for operation
    • put the ships into commission
    • the motor was out of commission
  5. noun a group of representatives or delegates
    delegation; delegacy; deputation; mission.
  6. noun a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something
    charge; direction.
    • the judge's charge to the jury
  7. noun an official document issued by a government and conferring on the recipient the rank of an officer in the armed forces
    military commission.
  8. noun the act of committing a crime
    committal; perpetration.
  9. noun a special assignment that is given to a person or group
    charge; mission.
    • a confidential mission to London
    • his charge was deliver a message
  10. verb put into commission; equip for service; of ships
  11. verb place an order for
  12. verb charge with a task

WordNet

Com*mis"sion noun
Etymology
F., fr. L. commissio. See Commit.
Definitions
  1. The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of perpetrating.
    Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness. South.
  2. The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust shall be executed.
  3. The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a trust; a charge.
  4. A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties.
    Let him see our commission. Shak.
  5. A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority; as, a colonel's commission.
  6. A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the execution of some trust; as, the interstate commerce commission.
    A commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter. Prescott.
  7. (Com.) (a) The acting under authority of, or on account of, another. (b) The thing to be done as agent for another; as, I have three commissions for the city. (c) The brokerage or allowance made to a factor or agent for transacting business for another; as, a commission of ten per cent on sales. See Del credere. Syn. -- Charge; warrant; authority; mandate; office; trust; employment.
Com*mis"sion transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Commissioned ; present participle & verbal noun Commissioning
Definitions
  1. To give a commission to; to furnish with a commission; to empower or authorize; as, to commission persons to perform certain acts; to commission an officer.
  2. To send out with a charge or commission.
    A chosen band He first commissions to the Latian land. Dryden.
    Syn. -- To appoint; depute; authorize; empower; delegate; constitute; ordain.

Webster 1913