commission
B2Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
An official group of people authorized to investigate or control something; a payment made to an agent for selling goods or services.
The act of formally giving someone authority to perform a task or role; a task or role given to someone, especially involving creative work; a sum of money, usually a percentage of a sale, paid to an agent or representative.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It can refer to both the act/process (to commission a report) and the resulting body/role/payment (serve on a commission, earn a 10% commission). The meanings are conceptually linked by the idea of delegating authority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK military/legal contexts, it refers to the rank/authority of an officer (to receive a commission). In US government, bodies like the 'Federal Communications Commission' are prominent. The core meanings are identical; frequency of use in military/government contexts differs slightly.
Connotations
In business, both use 'commission' similarly for sales. In government/administration, it suggests an official, investigative body (e.g., 'Royal Commission' in UK).
Frequency
High frequency in both business and formal contexts. Slightly higher visibility in US due to named federal regulatory agencies.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to commission + [someone] + to + [verb] (They commissioned her to paint a portrait)to commission + [noun] (The council commissioned a report)to be commissioned + [as/by] (He was commissioned as an officer / by the gallery)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in commission (operational/active - of a ship or machine)”
- “out of commission (not working/available)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers primarily to payment based on sales performance (e.g., 'She works on commission').
Academic
Used for official investigative bodies (e.g., 'The commission published its findings on climate change').
Everyday
Often used in the context of ordering custom work (e.g., 'We commissioned a local artist').
Technical
Military: officer's rank authorization. Engineering: the process of making a system operational.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government commissioned a review into banking practices.
- She was commissioned to write the score for the new film.
American English
- The city commissioned a statue for the town square.
- The Army commissioned him as a second lieutenant.
adverb
British English
- The artist works almost exclusively on a commission-only basis.
- The ship was put back into commission recently.
American English
- He was paid commission-only for that job.
- The aircraft carrier was placed in full commission.
adjective
British English
- He is a commissioned officer in the Royal Navy.
- The commissioned report was over 200 pages long.
American English
- She sold the painting on a commissioned basis.
- The commissioned study will take six months.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She gets a commission for every car she sells.
- The machine is out of commission today.
- The company pays a 10% commission on all sales.
- A special commission was formed to investigate the accident.
- They commissioned an architect to design their new house.
- The findings of the electoral commission were highly controversial.
- Her commission from the gallery was to produce a series of works reflecting urban decay.
- The commission's remit was narrowly defined, limiting its investigative scope.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MISSION given to a COMMittee - a COMMISSION. Or, a salesperson's MISSION is to earn a COMMISSION.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A TRANSFERRABLE OBJECT (to give/receive a commission). WORK IS A COMMODITY (to commission a piece of art).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'комиссия' for a small fee (use 'service charge' or 'fee').
- In sales contexts, 'commission' is not 'комиссионные' in the sense of a second-hand shop, but a payment: 'процент'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'commission' (payment for sales) with 'bonus' (extra payment for performance).
- Using 'commission' for any committee (it implies an official, often investigative, mandate).
- Misspelling: comission, comision.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'commission' used to mean 'a payment for services'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A committee is a general group formed for discussion or ongoing management. A commission is a specific type of committee, often with a formal, investigative mandate and official authority.
Yes. Countable: 'Several commissions were set up.' (referring to groups/tasks). Uncountable: 'She earns money by commission.' (referring to the payment system).
It is an idiom meaning 'not working' or 'not available for use', originally from naval terminology for a ship not ready for service.
Yes, as a verb it means to formally request or authorize the creation of something (a report, artwork) or to give someone an official rank, especially in the military.
Explore