board of commissioners: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, Legal, Governmental, Administrative
Quick answer
What does “board of commissioners” mean?
A group of individuals officially appointed or elected to oversee, manage, and make policy decisions for a government agency, public authority, or specific administrative body.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of individuals officially appointed or elected to oversee, manage, and make policy decisions for a government agency, public authority, or specific administrative body.
A governing or supervisory body, typically with legal authority, responsible for a particular public function (e.g., planning, utilities, police) or for the overall administration of a county government in certain U.S. jurisdictions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, this specific term is rare. Comparable functions are typically carried out by a 'council', 'committee', 'authority', or 'board of governors'. In the US, it is a standard term for county-level government and for overseeing specific public agencies (e.g., water board, planning board).
Connotations
US: Connotes local or state-level public administration, civic duty, elected or appointed office. UK: If used, would likely be in a very specific, formal institutional context, possibly for a regulatory body.
Frequency
High frequency in US administrative/legal contexts; very low frequency in general UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “board of commissioners” in a Sentence
The [County] Board of Commissioners + [verb: voted, approved, decided]A decision by the Board of Commissioners + [prepositional phrase: on the budget, regarding the policy]To serve on the Board of Commissioners + [prepositional phrase: for five years, of Public Works]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “board of commissioners” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - Primarily a noun phrase.
American English
- N/A - Primarily a noun phrase.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - No standard adjectival form.
American English
- The board-of-commissioners meeting (hyphenated compound modifier)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare in private business, except for regulated utilities or public-private entities. Used in formal reports about public sector contracts.
Academic
Used in political science, public administration, and legal studies discussing local governance structures.
Everyday
Very low frequency. Used by citizens involved in local government affairs, public hearings, or news reports about county decisions.
Technical
Core term in US municipal law, county charters, and public agency regulations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “board of commissioners”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “board of commissioners”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “board of commissioners”
- Using plural verb for 'board' (e.g., 'The board are...' - incorrect in AmE; 'The board is...' is standard).
- Confusing 'commissioner' (member) with 'Board of Commissioners' (the entity).
- Omitting 'of' (incorrect: 'board commissioners').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A city council governs a municipality (city/town). A Board of Commissioners typically governs a county (a larger administrative division containing multiple towns) or a specific public agency. In some US states, counties are run by commissions, not councils.
No. Authority is vested in the board as a collective body. Individual commissioners have power only as defined by the board's rules, usually during votes in official meetings.
Common titles include 'Chair' or 'Chairperson of the Board', 'President of the Board', or simply 'Chairman/Chairwoman'.
It varies. In many US counties, commissioners receive a salary or stipend. In some volunteer or part-time boards, it may be an unpaid, elected position.
A group of individuals officially appointed or elected to oversee, manage, and make policy decisions for a government agency, public authority, or specific administrative body.
Board of commissioners is usually formal, legal, governmental, administrative in register.
Board of commissioners: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɔːd əv kəˈmɪʃ(ə)nəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɔːrd əv kəˈmɪʃənərz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have the board's ear”
- “a rubber-stamp board (pejorative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BOARDroom where COMMISSIONed officials (COMMISSIONERS) meet to make important public decisions.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNANCE IS STEERING A SHIP (the board steers the agency's course).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Board of Commissioners' MOST commonly used?