commissaire: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “commissaire” mean?
An official, especially a police commissioner or the organizer/referee of a cycling race (like the Tour de France).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An official, especially a police commissioner or the organizer/referee of a cycling race (like the Tour de France).
The term can refer to a high-ranking police official in certain Francophone contexts (e.g., Belgian or French police) or, more specifically in sports, to the chief official ensuring rules are followed in professional cycling events. In historical contexts, it can refer to various commissioners or officials with specific administrative duties.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical but very rare in both. It might be slightly more recognized in British English due to closer cultural ties with France and greater interest in professional cycling.
Connotations
Carries a distinctly European, specifically French, connotation. Sounds technical or specialised.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora. Almost exclusively found in texts about European policing or cycling journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “commissaire” in a Sentence
Commissaire + of + [organisation/event] (commissaire of the race)Commissaire + for + [area/function] (commissaire for technical regulations)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Might appear in papers on comparative policing or sports history.
Everyday
Extremely uncommon. Would likely require explanation.
Technical
Standard term within professional cycling governance and reports on certain European police forces.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “commissaire”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “commissaire”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “commissaire”
- Using it as a general word for 'manager' or 'boss'.
- Misspelling as 'comissaire' (single 'm').
- Assuming it is common in American English policing contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, etymologically, but in English it is used only as a loanword in specific niches like European cycling or references to certain police ranks in Francophone countries. You would not call a British Police Commissioner a 'commissaire'.
Only if your text is specifically about professional cycling or certain European police systems. Otherwise, use more common English terms like 'official', 'commissioner', or 'referee'.
A race director is often part of the organising team managing logistics. A commissaire is an independent official appointed by the governing body (like the UCI) to enforce the sporting rules and regulations during the event.
In English, it's anglicised. In British English, say 'kom-i-SAIR'. In American English, say 'kahm-i-SAIR'. The final 'e' is pronounced.
An official, especially a police commissioner or the organizer/referee of a cycling race (like the Tour de France).
Commissaire is usually formal / technical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The commissaire's car (the lead official's car in a race)”
- “Commissaire's decision is final”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a French COMMISSAIRE at a Parisian café, wearing both a police badge and a cycling jersey, COMMISSIoning both law and race order.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A POSITION (The word denotes a specific seat/role of control within a system).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'commissaire' most accurately used in English?