commandment
C1Formal, religious, literary
Definition
Meaning
A divine command or law, especially one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses in the Bible.
Any authoritative command, rule, or principle that should be strictly obeyed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with religious doctrine, particularly Judeo-Christian traditions. Can be used figuratively for any strongly held principle, but retains a formal, moralistic, or authoritative connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Both varieties strongly associate the word with the Ten Commandments. Figurative use (e.g., 'a commandment of good journalism') is possible in both but remains formal.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, occurring primarily in religious, legal, or formal literary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to obey/follow a commandmentto violate/break a commandmenta commandment against somethinga commandment from Goda commandment to do somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “written in stone (like a commandment)”
- “a modern-day commandment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Figuratively used for core company principles, e.g., 'Our first commandment is customer satisfaction.'
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, philosophy, and history when discussing moral laws or the Decalogue.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Typically appears in discussions about religion, morality, or in fixed phrases like 'the Ten Commandments.'
Technical
Specific to theology and biblical scholarship, referring to the numbered laws in Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He commandment them to leave. (Rare, archaic. Modern: 'commanded')
American English
- (No common usage. The verb form is 'to command'.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'commandment'.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'commandment'.)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjectival form derived from 'commandment'.)
American English
- (No standard adjectival form derived from 'commandment'.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Ten Commandments are important in the Bible.
- One commandment is 'you shall not steal'.
- The ancient text laid out a strict commandment against bearing false witness.
- The professor analysed the socio-political context in which each Mosaic commandment was formulated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMMAND from a holy figure that you MUST follow. Command + 'ment' (like in 'government') = a governing command.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY/LAW IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT GIVEN BY A HIGHER AUTHORITY (e.g., 'handed down', 'set in stone', 'carved tablets').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'команда' (team/command). 'Commandment' is 'заповедь'.
- The verb 'to command' is 'командовать', but the noun 'commandment' has a purely religious/moral sense.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'commadment' or 'comandment'.
- Using it interchangeably with casual 'rule' (e.g., 'My mum's commandment is to tidy my room' is overly strong).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'commandment' MOST commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but that is its primary and most common usage. It can be used figuratively for any authoritative rule, though this is less common and formal.
A 'commandment' implies a divine or moral authority, often from a religious text. A 'law' is broader, covering both secular legal systems and scientific principles.
In British English: kuh-MAND-muhnt. In American English: kuh-MAND-muhnt (with a shorter 'a' sound in the second syllable).
No, 'commandment' is exclusively a noun. The related verb is 'to command'.