Definition of “commission” - English Dictionary

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“commission” in English

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commissionverb

uk ​ /kəˈmɪʃ.ən/ us ​ /kəˈmɪʃ.ən/

commission verb (REQUEST WORK)

› [ T ] to formally choose someone to do a special piece of work, or to formally ask for a special piece of work from someone:

The newspaper commissioned a series of articles on the worst excesses of the fashion industry.
She's commissioned an artist to paint her portrait.

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commission verb (MAKE OFFICER)

› [ T usually passive ] specialized military to give someone the official authority to be an officer in the armed forces:

Grandfather was commissioned as Group Captain in the RAF just before the war.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

commissionnoun

uk ​ /kəˈmɪʃ.ən/ us ​ /kəˈmɪʃ.ən/

commission noun (PAYMENT)

› [ C or U ] a payment to someone who sells goods that is directly related to the amount sold, or a system that uses such payments:

Is she paid a regular wage or is it on/by commission only?
She gets a 15 percent commission on every machine she sells.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

in commission
out of commission

(Definition of “commission” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“commission” in American English

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commissionnoun

us ​ /kəˈmɪʃ·ən/

commission noun (GROUP)

› [ C ] a group of people who have been formally chosen and given the authority to get information about a problem or to perform other special duties:

Congress appointed a commission to study immigration policy.

commission noun (WORK REQUEST)

› [ C ] a formal request to do a special piece of work for payment:

She received a commission to paint the governor’s portrait.

commission noun (MILITARY)

› [ C ] the official authority to be an officer in the armed forces:

She received her commission as a lieutenant in the US Army.

commission noun (CRIME)

› [ U ] the act of doing something that is illegal or considered wrong:

the commission of a crime

commission noun (PAYMENT)

› [ C/U ] a system of payment based on a percentage of the value of sales or other business done, or a payment to someone working under such a system:

[ C ] As a real estate agent, her commission is between 4% and 6% on every sale.

commissionverb [ T ]

us ​ /kəˈmɪʃ·ən/

commission verb [ T ] (WORK REQUEST)

› to choose someone to do a piece of work, or to have a piece of work done:

The newspaper commissioned a series of articles on the fashion industry.

(Definition of “commission” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“commission” in Business English

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commissionnoun

uk ​ /kəˈmɪʃən/ us ​

› [ C or U ] COMMERCE a payment to someone who sells homes, products, investments, etc., which is directly related to the amount they sell, or the practice of receiving these payments:

make/pay/receive a commission The airline agreed to pay travel agents a 3% commission.
His monthly salary, which is based on commissions, has dropped from about $7,000 to $1,000.
be on commission People often work harder when they're on commission.

› [ C ] also Commission GOVERNMENT a group of people who have been officially chosen to examine a problem and advise on the best action to take:

appoint/create/establish/set up a commission Congress appointed a commission to investigate the causes of the financial crisis.

› [ C ] also Commission GOVERNMENT an official organization whose job is to manage a particular activity, suggest laws relating to the activity, and make certain that laws are obeyed:

communications/energy/planning, etc. commission The Energy Commission announced rules that bar municipal utilities from signing new contracts with coal-fired power plants.

› COMMERCE a request to do a particular piece of work for someone:

accept/get/receive a commission When he was 19, he got a commission to write an orchestra piece.

commissionverb [ T ]

uk ​ /kəˈmɪʃən/ us

› to ask someone do a particular piece of work for you:

The newspaper commissioned a series of articles on the fashion industry.
out of commission

› broken or not available to be used:

put sth/take sth out of commission In Port Arthur, three major refineries were taken out of commission by power failures.
See also
decommission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
the Federal Communications Commission
the Federal Trade Commission
overriding commission
the Securities and Exchange Commission

(Definition of “commission” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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