Commission is a noun or verb meaning a group given authorization to perform a duty or task, or the act of granting such authorization, or a fee paid for services. It denotes formal authorization, a mission or assignment, and in sales, a percentage-based fee. It carries connotations of official capacity, delegation, and performance-based compensation.
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"The city appointed a commission to study urban development."
"She was commissioned to design the new municipal hall."
"They earn a commission on every sale they close."
"The commission met weekly to review policy recommendations."
Commission comes from the Latin commissio, from committere meaning ‘to entrust, commit’ (com- ‘together’ + mittere ‘to send’). The root word is mittere, with the prefix com- indicating joint or complete action. In Latin, commissio referred to entrusting someone with a task, mandate, or the act of committing. In medieval and early modern English, commission also referred to the body entrusted with a particular mission, and to the act of granting authority. By the 15th century, it broadened to mean a group of people authorized to perform a duty (a committee) and, in commerce, the percentage-based fee earned by a salesperson. The verb form “commission” developed parallel senses: to authorize (to commission) and to appoint to a task. Over time, related senses of “commission” include a government or official body and, in art and military contexts, commission as the act of ordering work or service. The noun “commission” thus sits at the intersection of delegation, authorization, and compensation, with historical emphasis on entrusted authority and formal appointment. First known use in English appears in the 15th century in legal and administrative language, aligning with Latin roots in governance and delegated authority.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "commission" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "commission" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "commission"
-ion sounds
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Pronounce it as /kəˈmɪʃən/. The stress is on the second syllable: com-MIS-sion. Start with a schwa /kə/ before the stressed /ˈmɪ/; the final /ən/ is a light, unstressed schwa. In rapid speech, the second syllable remains prominent, while the first and third blend a bit. Think ‘kuh-MISH-uhn’ in a quick, natural cadence.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable as in ‘COM- mission’ or treating the word as ‘com-MISH-on’ with wrong vowel in the middle. Another frequent slip is pronouncing the middle vowel as /iː/ or /ɪə/ rather than /ɪ/. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable /ˈmɪ/ Jot down the sequence: /kə/ + /ˈmɪ/ + /ʃən/. Use a short, clipped /ʃ/ in the middle and end with a weak /ən/.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /kəˈmɪʃən/ remains, with minor vowel shifts: the first /ə/ is a relaxed schwa in all, while /ɪ/ in /ˈmɪ/ can vary slightly toward a near-close front vowel in some speakers. Rhoticity doesn’t drastically alter this word, but non-rhotic varieties may drop post-vocalic r influence only if adjacent. The main differences are in the quickness and vowel quality of the middle syllable, not in syllable count or stress scheme.
Key challenge is the three-syllable structure with a strong middle stress and a cluster /mɪʃ/ transitioning into a light /ən/. The sequence /ˈmɪ/ followed by /ʃən/ requires timing: the /ʃ/ must not slip into /tʃ/ and the final /ən/ should stay unstressed. A lot depends on keeping the middle vowel short and crisp while preserving the /ʃ/ sound. Practice by pacing syllables slowly, then accelerating.
The word has a clear, strong secondary vowel onset in the middle syllable with a distinct /ʃ/ consonant cluster transitioning from /m/ to /ʃ/. The challenge is maintaining a short, relaxed final /ən/ while preserving the /ˈmɪ/ vowel’s integrity. Keeping the middle syllable loud enough without swallowing the /ʃ/ is key; use a deliberate, light tongue touch behind the teeth for /ʃ/.
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