commander
gb/kəmˈændɚ/ us/kəmˈændɚ/
B1
English
~ 6200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
leader in charge of forces
A person who is the leader of soldiers, police, or another group with power to give orders.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is the commander of [a unit/place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "commander for" instead of "commander of" (e.g. say "commander of the base," not "commander for the base"). They may also confuse "commander" (the person) with the verb "to command" (to give an order).
Synonyms
leader (More general; does not always suggest military or police authority.)
|
commanding officer (More formal and specifically military; often used as an official role within a unit.)
Antonyms
subordinate (Refers to someone who must follow orders rather than give them.)
Collocations
military commander
|police commander
|unit commander
|base commander
|mission commander
|overall commander
Themes
military
|work
|leadership
|politics
|law
Examples
- The commander ordered the troops to hold their position until dawn.
- As base commander, she was responsible for the safety of everyone on site.
- Police commanders met to coordinate their response to the protests.
- The mission commander decided to delay the spacecraft's landing.
- The ground commander requested more helicopters for the operation.
Learner examples
- The commander told the soldiers to stop.
- Our city has a new police commander.
- The commander of the base lives here.
- The mission commander spoke to the team.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
2
naval officer rank
A middle-high officer rank in the navy, higher than a lieutenant commander but lower than a captain.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is promoted to commander
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the general meaning of "commander" (any person in charge) with this specific naval rank. When it is a rank, it is often capitalized and used before a name, as in "Commander Jones."
Synonyms
naval officer (Broader; refers to any commissioned officer in a navy, not this specific rank.)
Antonyms
seaman (A much lower, typically non-officer rank in a navy, contrasting with the senior status of a commander.)
Collocations
naval commander
|Royal Navy commander
|promoted to commander
|rank of commander
|Commander Smith
|made a commander
Themes
military
|transportation
|politics
Examples
- After fifteen years of service, he was promoted to commander in the navy.
- Commander Lewis took charge of the destroyer during the storm.
- She holds the rank of commander in the Royal Navy.
- Two commanders were selected to lead the new submarine squadron.
Learner examples
- He is a commander in the navy.
- Her father is a commander on a big ship.
- She was made a commander last year.
- The navy promoted him to commander.
Noun
formal
C2
entity
3
rank in an order of honor
A special honor title in some countries, given as a middle level in an order, such as a British or French order of merit.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is made a Commander of [an order]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use of "Commander" always refers to the military. In this sense, it is an honor or title in a civil or chivalric order, often written with a capital "C" and followed by the name of the order.
Synonyms
honorary title (General term for a title of honor; does not specify the exact rank of "Commander" within an order.)
Antonyms
citizen (In this context, an ordinary person without such an honorary rank or title.)
Collocations
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
|appointed Commander
|made a Commander
|named a Commander in the honors list
|Commander of the French order
|title of Commander
Themes
society
|government
|politics
|law
Examples
- The actor was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
- Several scientists were appointed Commanders of the order for their work on vaccines.
- He received the title of Commander in the French order of merit.
- She was named a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Year Honours.
Learner examples
- She became a Commander of a special British order.
- He was made a Commander for his important work.
- Two artists were named Commanders in the honors list.
- He is a Commander in a national order of merit.
Grammar
Dictionary form
commander
IPA
GB/kəmˈændɚ/
US/kəmˈændɚ/
Syllables & stress
com - mand - er (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mand)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: commander
- Plural: commanders
Word family
Forms
commanders
noun
Core family
command
noun B1
Related words
commanding
adjective
Advanced or less common
commandeer
verb
commandant
noun
Expressions
commander in chief
1/kəmˈændɚ ˈɪn t͡ʃˈif/
fixed phrase
formal
top leader of armed forces
The person who has the highest control over a country’s army, navy, and air force, often a president, king, or prime minister.
Examples
- In the United States, the president is the commander in chief of the armed forces.
- During the war, the commander in chief directed operations from a secure bunker.
- As commander in chief, she has the final say on all major military actions.
supreme commander
1/supɹˈim kəmˈændɚ/
fixed phrase
overall military leader in war
The highest military leader who controls all forces in a big war, group of countries, or large area.
Examples
- The allied forces were placed under a single supreme commander.
- As supreme commander, he coordinated the armies of several nations on the front.
- History books often focus on the decisions of the supreme commander during the campaign.