commissar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Political
Quick answer
What does “commissar” mean?
An official in a communist government, especially in the former Soviet Union, responsible for political education, discipline, and ensuring loyalty to the party's ideology within a military unit or civil institution.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An official in a communist government, especially in the former Soviet Union, responsible for political education, discipline, and ensuring loyalty to the party's ideology within a military unit or civil institution.
By extension, a strict, authoritarian figure who enforces rigid ideological conformity, often used pejoratively in non-communist contexts to describe someone with dogmatic oversight powers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. Both varieties use the term primarily with reference to Soviet/Russian history.
Connotations
Equally strong historical and political connotations in both varieties. The metaphorical use to mean a rigid enforcer of rules may be slightly more common in UK political journalism.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general use. Slightly higher in UK media due to historical proximity and coverage of European history.
Grammar
How to Use “commissar” in a Sentence
commissar of + [institution/department]commissar for + [policy area]commissar to + [military unit]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “commissar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The attempt to commissar the university curriculum was met with fierce resistance from the faculty.
American English
- He accused the board of trying to commissar the editorial process.
adjective
British English
- His commissar-like demeanour stifled all creative discussion in the department.
American English
- They adopted a commissar approach to managing the project's messaging.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. If used, metaphorical: 'The new compliance manager behaves like a financial commissar.'
Academic
Common in historical, political science, and Soviet studies texts to refer to the specific official role.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Used only in metaphorical, often humorous, criticism: 'He's the health and safety commissar of our office.'
Technical
Specific term in historiography and political theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “commissar”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “commissar”
- Misspelling as 'comissar'.
- Using it as a neutral term for any modern government official.
- Confusing it with 'commissioner', which is a neutral administrative title.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'commissioner' is a neutral term for a person with a specific commission or authority (e.g., Police Commissioner). A 'commissar' is a historically specific term for a Communist Party official with ideological oversight, carrying strong political connotations.
Extremely rarely. Outside of a strictly historical description of the Soviet role, its connotations are almost always negative, implying authoritarianism and oppressive ideological control.
It originates from the Russian 'комиссар', which itself came via French or German from the Medieval Latin 'commissarius', meaning 'person in charge'. Its specific political meaning developed after the 1917 Russian Revolution.
The specific Soviet-style political commissar system is largely historical. However, some modern armies, like China's People's Liberation Army, retain political officers with similar functions. The term is not used for officials in non-communist states.
An official in a communist government, especially in the former Soviet Union, responsible for political education, discipline, and ensuring loyalty to the party's ideology within a military unit or civil institution.
Commissar is usually formal, historical, political in register.
Commissar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒm.ɪ.sɑː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.mɪ.sɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms, but often appears in phrases like 'acting like a cultural commissar'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COMMunist SuperviSAR' – a supervisor enforcing communist doctrine.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A COMMISSAR (for rigid, ideologically-driven control).
Practice
Quiz
In a modern, metaphorical sense, calling someone a 'commissar' primarily implies they are: