commodore: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, historical, nautical, organisational
Quick answer
What does “commodore” mean?
A naval officer rank, historically above captain and below rear admiral. Also, the president or head of a yacht or sailing club.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A naval officer rank, historically above captain and below rear admiral. Also, the president or head of a yacht or sailing club.
A title for the leader of a convoy or group of merchant ships; a courtesy title for senior captains in some navies; a brand name (e.g., Commodore International computers, Holden Commodore car); used historically for officers commanding a squadron or division of a fleet.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In nautical/military contexts, usage is identical. The car model 'Holden Commodore' is Australian and largely unknown in the UK. The computer 'Commodore 64' was popular in both regions.
Connotations
Both: carries connotations of authority, tradition, and the sea. Slightly archaic in general use.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday language in both varieties. More likely encountered in historical texts, naval contexts, or references to the specific brands.
Grammar
How to Use “commodore” in a Sentence
Commodore + [of + ORGANISATION]Commodore + [LAST NAME]the + Commodore + VERBVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “commodore” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The club voted to commodore him for the next season. (rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He attended in his commodore's uniform. (possessive, not pure adjective)
- The commodore suite had a view of the marina.
American English
- She drove a vintage Commodore sedan. (brand name as modifier)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in the historical context of shipping companies or as a brand name (Commodore International).
Academic
Found in historical, military, or maritime studies discussing naval ranks or convoy systems.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used when discussing yacht club hierarchy or retro computing/gaming ('I had a Commodore 64').
Technical
Specific naval rank in some countries' systems; a classification in sailing club governance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “commodore”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “commodore”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “commodore”
- Using it as a synonym for any manager or boss.
- Spelling as 'commander' or 'commador'.
- Assuming it is a current, standard senior rank in all modern navies (many have abolished or changed its use).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a senior rank, above captain, but in many modern navies it is not a permanent rank like admiral. It is often a temporary or honorary appointment, or a rank that has been replaced by 'rear admiral (lower half)'.
Yes. The title is gender-neutral in modern English usage (e.g., Commodore Jane Smith). The term 'Commandress' is obsolete and not used.
Traditionally, a commodore commanded a squadron or a division, while an admiral commanded a fleet or a larger formation. An admiral is a higher, more permanent flag rank.
It was named by Commodore International, a company whose name was chosen to sound prestigious and authoritative. The '64' referred to its 64 kilobytes of RAM.
A naval officer rank, historically above captain and below rear admiral. Also, the president or head of a yacht or sailing club.
Commodore is usually formal, historical, nautical, organisational in register.
Commodore: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒm.ə.dɔː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.mə.dɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. 'Play the commodore' is not a standard idiom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COMMAND + MORE. A commodore commands more ships than a captain.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS RANK / LEADERSHIP IS A SHIP'S COMMAND.
Practice
Quiz
In a modern British context, where are you most likely to encounter a 'Commodore' as a active title?