Definition

Noun: 1. A commissary on a United States Army post: A store, typically on a military base, where food, groceries, and household goods are sold, often at reduced prices to military personnel and their families.

Usage

This is a specialized term used primarily within the context of the United States military. It functions as a singular noun.

Examples

• "I need to stop by the PX to pick up some groceries before dinner."
• "The new PX on the base has a much better selection than the old one."
• "Only authorized personnel with a military ID can shop at the PX."

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in contrast with the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent, the "NEX" (Navy Exchange), or the Air Force equivalent, the "BX" (Base Exchange).
• It can be used metonymically to refer to the general concept of on-base shopping.
  • Example: "Let's do our shopping at the PX this week to save money."

Variants and Related Words

• Post Exchange: This is the full, formal name for "PX." The terms are used interchangeably.
• BX (Base Exchange): The equivalent store on an Air Force base.
• NEX (Navy Exchange): The equivalent store on a Navy or Marine Corps base.
• Commissary: In some contexts, "commissary" is a broader term for a military store selling food, while "PX/BX/NEX" often refers to stores selling a wider variety of goods (clothing, electronics, etc.). However, in common usage, they are frequently synonymous.

Synonyms

• Commissary
• Base store
• Military exchange

Notes

• "PX" is an initialism, not an acronym. It is pronounced by saying the letters "P" and "X" individually.
• It is always capitalized as PX.

Noun

1. a commissary on a United States Army post