command post
B2Formal, Technical (Military, Business, Emergency Services)
Definition
Meaning
A military headquarters from which a commander directs operations.
Any central location from which an activity, project, or operation is directed and coordinated, often in a hierarchical structure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a physical location with an emphasis on strategic control and authority. Can be literal (tent, vehicle, room) or metaphorical (dedicated office space).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use the term. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Strongly associated with military and hierarchical command structures in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to larger military cultural presence in media, but the term is standard in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The general established a command post [near the front lines].The operation was coordinated from a command post [in the capital].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Run a tight ship from the command post”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorically used for a manager's office or a project's central control room during a major launch. (e.g., 'The CEO turned her conference room into the command post for the merger.')
Academic
Rare. Might appear in historical or political science texts discussing military strategy.
Everyday
Rare. Used jokingly or metaphorically to describe a home office or kitchen during a family event. (e.g., 'Mum's kitchen was the command post for Christmas dinner.')
Technical
Standard term in military, emergency management, police operations, and space mission control contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The unit will command-post itself in the old farmhouse.
- They command-posted the operation from a bunker.
American English
- The team command-posted the relief efforts from city hall.
- We need to command-post this initiative from the main office.
adverb
British English
- The general operated command-post from the rear.
American English
- They directed the response command-post from the emergency operations center.
adjective
British English
- The command-post vehicle was heavily armoured.
- He had a command-post role in the exercise.
American English
- The command-post truck was equipped with satellite links.
- She assumed a command-post function during the crisis.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The soldiers have a command post.
- The police set up a command post near the accident.
- During the flood, the council established a command post to coordinate rescue efforts.
- The general relocated his forward command post under cover of darkness to maintain tactical advantage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a military commander standing at a POST, giving COMMANDs. The place where commands are issued from is the COMMAND POST.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATION IS AN ARMY / CONTROL IS A CENTRAL LOCATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation of 'post' as 'почта' (mail). The military 'post' here is closer to 'пост' as in a guard post or position (e.g., 'комендантский пункт', 'штаб', 'командный пункт').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'command' as an adjective without 'post' (e.g., 'He worked at the command' is incorrect). Confusing with 'outpost' (a distant, subordinate station).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'command post' is typically:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its origin and primary use is military, it is widely used metaphorically in emergency services, project management, and business to denote any central control location.
HQ is a more permanent, institutional main office. A command post is often temporary, tactical, and set up for a specific operation, though it can be a permanent room designated for command functions.
Yes, though less common. It can be used informally (especially in business/military jargon) to mean 'to establish or operate from a command post' (e.g., 'We'll command-post the launch from the 10th floor').
It is a compound noun, almost always written as two separate words: 'command post'. Hyphenation (command-post) is sometimes seen when used as a modifier before a noun (e.g., command-post vehicle).