command paper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Official, Governmental
Quick answer
What does “command paper” mean?
A formal document issued by the UK government and presented to Parliament, typically containing policy proposals, reports, or treaties, so called because it is presented 'by Command of His/Her Majesty'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal document issued by the UK government and presented to Parliament, typically containing policy proposals, reports, or treaties, so called because it is presented 'by Command of His/Her Majesty'.
A high-level official government publication that outlines policy, proposes legislation, or presents the findings of a committee or commission. It is a key part of the UK's legislative and consultative process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard and institutional in British English. There is no direct, single-word equivalent in American English; similar documents are called 'government reports', 'congressional reports', 'white papers', or 'presidential reports'.
Connotations
In the UK, it connotes authority, officialdom, and parliamentary process. In the US, the term is largely unknown and would be interpreted literally as a paper that commands.
Frequency
High frequency in UK government and political discourse; extremely low to zero in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “command paper” in a Sentence
command paper on [topic/issue]command paper entitled [title]command paper number [Cm XXXX]command paper from the [department]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts dealing with UK government policy or public sector contracts.
Academic
Used in political science, British politics, and public administration studies to refer to specific government publications.
Everyday
Virtually unused in everyday conversation; specific to news reports about UK politics.
Technical
A precise term in UK parliamentary procedure and constitutional law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “command paper”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “command paper”
- Using 'command paper' to refer to any government document outside the UK context.
- Incorrect capitalisation: it is not a proper noun unless part of a specific title (e.g., 'Command Paper 9010').
- Pronouncing 'command' with stress on the first syllable (correct is /kəˈmɑːnd/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In the UK, a white paper is a type of command paper that outlines firm policy proposals for debate. Not all command papers are white papers; some are green papers (consultative) or other reports.
Yes, command papers are public documents. They are published on the UK government's official website and are often available in libraries.
It derives from the phrase 'by Command of His/Her Majesty', as the document is formally presented to Parliament by the monarch's government.
The term is specific to the UK and some Commonwealth countries that follow similar parliamentary traditions (e.g., Canada, Australia), though usage may vary.
A formal document issued by the UK government and presented to Parliament, typically containing policy proposals, reports, or treaties, so called because it is presented 'by Command of His/Her Majesty'.
Command paper is usually formal, official, governmental in register.
Command paper: in British English it is pronounced /kəˌmɑːnd ˈpeɪpə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˌmænd ˈpeɪpɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a royal COMMAND ordering a special PAPER to be presented to Parliament. The crown commands the paper.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT POLICY IS A FORMAL DOCUMENT (issued by authority).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'command paper' most accurately described as?