Commissary (noun) refers to a place where military personnel can buy provisions, or a storehouse in a military or prison context; it can also denote a supervisor or official in charge of such stores. In modern usage, it commonly means a shopping facility on a military base or a prison/organization’s supply office. The term carries a formal, institutional tone and appears in both historical and contemporary contexts.
"The soldiers queued for rations at the base commissary."
"Prison administrators scheduled a tour of the commissary to show new guards the inventory system."
"The ship’s commissary kept the crew fed during long voyages."
"She managed the commissary budgets and supplier contracts for the unit."
Commissary derives from Late Latin commissarius, meaning 'in charge, entrusted,' from Latin committo 'commit, entrust.' The root commiss- is related to warranting or delegating authority; in medieval and early modern Europe, a commissary was an official endowed with delegated powers, often in ecclesiastical or military contexts. The term entered English via French commandeur-style administration, aligning with a role that administers provisions or stores. In English, commissary originally referred to a person authorized to supervise funds, provisions, or legal matters on behalf of an administrator. By the 17th–19th centuries, its sense broadened to include storehouses or offices tied to provisioning and, in military contexts, to on-base grocery and supply facilities. Today, it most often denotes a military or institutional purchasing facility (on-base commissary) or the official in charge, preserving the sense of entrusted authority and provisioning. The transition from person to place and role reflects the core idea of entrusted responsibility applied to material goods and logistics within hierarchical organizations.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Commissary" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Commissary" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Commissary" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Commissary"
-her sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce it as COM-uh-suh-ree with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈkɒmɪsəri/ in UK English or /ˈkɑːmɪsəri/ in many US varieties. The middle syllable is a short, soft /ɪ/ or /ə/ depending on the speaker, and the final -ary is reduced to /ər-i/ or /əri/. Keep the 'ss' as a single /s/ sound, not a /z/. Audio reference: [native-speaker audio in reputable dictionaries or Pronounce resources].
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying co-MMI-sary), mispronouncing the middle vowel as a long /i:/ or /i/ rather than a schwa or short /ɪ/, and overpronouncing the final -ary as /eɪ/ instead of /əri/. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a short i or schwa in the second syllable, and end with a light /ri/ or /əri/. Practice with slow, deliberate syllable segmentation.
In US vs UK vs AU: US often uses /ˈkɑːmɪˌsɛri/ with a less rounded /ɒ/ in the first syllable and a reduced final -ary /əri/. UK tends to /ˈkɒmɪsəri/ with a shorter, crisper first vowel and less rhoticity in non-rhotic varieties, and AU usually mirrors US patterns but can soften the first vowel towards /ɒ/ or /ɐ/ depending on speaker region. Across all, stress remains on the first syllable, but vowel quality and rhoticity influence overall timbre.
Key challenges are the cluster /mɪs/ in the middle, the single /s/ in the 'ss' spelling, and the final light /ri/ that reduces syllables so the word sounds like COM-uh-suh-ree. Speakers often misplace stress or over-articulate the final syllable, making it sound like /ˈkɒmɪsəri/ with a full /i/ rather than a reduced schwa. Focus on keeping the first syllable strong, then glide to a quick, soft second and third syllable.
The word often participates in rapid military/administrative speech where the final -ary is pronounced as a reduced /-əri/ or /-ri/ rather than a full /-eɪ/ or /- airy/. This reduced ending helps blend with surrounding syllables in fast speech and keeps the word sounding both formal and streamlined in institutional talk. IPA cues emphasize a light, unstressed final segment.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Commissary"!
No related words found
