commander

noun

com·​mand·​er kə-ˈman-dər 

1

: one in an official position of command or control: such as

a

: commanding officer

b

: the presiding officer of a society or organization

2

: a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard ranking above a lieutenant commander and below a captain

commandership

kə-ˈman-dər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms of commander

• commandant

Examples of commander in a Sentence

a surrender of the fort by the commander without a single shot having been fired

the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise

Recent Examples on the Web

Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is the mission commander with aviator John Shoffner as pilot and two mission specialist seats paid for by the Saudi Space Commission, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026

Mexican special forces have arrested a senior commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) who was widely viewed as a potential successor to its slain leader, according to the country's security minister, Omar García Harfuch. —Drew Pittock, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

Danish archaeologists recently uncovered a ship that was battered by the forces of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson — one of the most renowned naval commanders of his time. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Or that Patel exploded at the FBI swat team’s commander. —Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing commander

• commander in chief
• lieutenant commander
• wing commander

Rhymes for commander

• bystander
• expander
• highlander
• leander
• meander
• philander
• brander
• candor
• dander
• gander
• grander
• hander

Kids Definition

commander

noun

com·​mand·​er kə-ˈman-dər 

1

: one in official command especially of a military force or base

2

: a naval commissioned officer with a rank just below that of captain

commandership

-ˌship 

noun