commissary

noun

com·​mis·​sary ˈkä-mə-ˌser-ē 

-ˌse-rē

plural commissaries

1

: one delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office

2

a

: a store for equipment and provisions

especially : a supermarket for military personnel

b

: food supplies

c

: a lunchroom especially in a movie studio

commissarial

ˌkä-mə-ˈsär-ē-əl 

-ˈser-

adjective

Synonyms of commissary

• deputy
• delegate
• representative
• agent
• manager
• attorney
• minister

Examples of commissary in a Sentence

will serve as commissary of religious education for the whole diocese

Recent Examples on the Web

Under Indiana law, commissary funds can be spent on merchandise for the commissary, training, equipment or programs, among other things. —Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026

They’re cooked in a commissary kitchen, and shipped to your doorstep in special packaging that prevents spoilage without using a bunch of preservatives. —Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 22 Apr. 2026

The court will have spaces for five food trucks, as well as a two-story building that will work as a commissary for the tenants. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026

The next closest commissaries are at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield and the Ord Community Commissary in Monterey. —Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English commissarie, borrowed from Anglo-French commissaire, commissarie, borrowed from Medieval Latin commissārius, from Latin commissus (past participle of committere "to join together, engage, place in the keeping of, entrust, bring about") + -ārius -ary entry 1 — more at commit

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for commissary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

commissary

noun

com·​mis·​sary ˈkäm-ə-ˌser-ē 

plural commissaries

1

: a person to whom a duty or office is entrusted by someone of higher rank

2

: a store that provides supplies (as food) especially to members of the military and their families