Definition

1. Noun:

   • A special assignment or task given to a person or group: A specific job or duty that someone is officially asked to do.
   • The act of committing a crime or offense: The action of carrying out or perpetrating an unlawful act.
   • An official document conferring authority, especially a military officer's rank: A formal warrant or certificate granting a specific rank or power.
   • A formal order or command: An authoritative instruction or directive.
   • A group of people officially appointed to perform a specific function: A committee or board delegated to investigate, manage, or report on a matter.
   • A state of being active, functional, or ready for use: The condition of being in service or operational order.
   • A fee paid to an agent for services, based on a percentage of the value involved: Payment, often a percentage, for completing a transaction or sale.

2. Verb:

   • To formally charge someone with a task or duty: To give an official order or authorization for someone to do something.
   • To place an order for something, such as a work of art: To request the creation of a specific piece, typically by an artist.
   • To prepare a ship for active service: To equip and officially place a naval vessel into operational status.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She received a commission to write a report on urban development.
  • The commission of the fraud took several months to uncover.
  • He received his officer's commission after graduating from the academy.
  • The judge issued a commission to the jury to deliberate carefully.
  • The government formed a commission to review the policy.
  • The old warship is back in commission after its refurbishment.
  • The salesperson earns a 10% commission on every car sold.

• Verb:

  • The company commissioned an expert to conduct the audit.
  • The city commissioned a sculptor to create a monument for the park.
  • The navy will commission the new aircraft carrier next month.

Advanced Usage

• "In commission": In working order; ready and available for use or service.
  • After repairs, the elevator is back in commission.
• "Out of commission": Not working; unavailable for use or service.
  • The main printer is out of commission until we get new toner.

Variants and Related Words

• Commissioner (n): A person appointed to a role on or as the head of a commission; a government official in charge of a department.
  • The police commissioner held a press conference.
• Commissioned (adj): (Of a work of art) produced specially to order; (of a person) holding a commission, especially in the armed forces.
  • This is a commissioned portrait of the founder.
  • He is a commissioned officer in the army.

Synonyms

• Noun: Assignment, task, mandate, committee, board, fee, percentage.
• Verb: Appoint, authorize, enlist, contract, order.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Commission" is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed through the verb itself or related nouns.)

Related Idioms

• "On commission": Being paid according to the amount of sales or business generated, rather than receiving a fixed salary.
  • Most real estate agents work on commission.

Noun

1. a special assignment that is given to a person or group
   • a confidential mission to London
   • his charge was deliver a message
2. the act of committing a crime
3. an official document issued by a government and conferring on the recipient the rank of an officer in the armed forces
4. a formal statement of a command or injunction to do something
   • the judge's charge to the jury
5. a group of representatives or delegates
6. the state of being in good working order and ready for operation
   • put the ships into commission
   • the motor was out of commission
7. the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
8. a fee for services rendered based on a percentage of an amount received or collected or agreed to be paid (as distinguished from a salary)
   • he works on commission
9. a special group delegated to consider some matter
   • a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours - Milton Berle

Verb

1. charge with a task
2. place an order for
3. put into commission; equip for service; of ships