commission

Money someone earns for each sale they make, usually a share of the price.

• I earn commission on sales.
• The company paid her a small commission.
• Does your salary include commission?

How to use it: commission on something (She earns commission on every car she sells.)

Common phrases: earn commission, sales commission, work on commission

A group officially chosen to study a problem or manage a particular activity.

• The commission will study the problem.
• She chairs a commission on housing.
• Two commissions investigated the complaints.

Similar words: committee, panel

Common phrases: independent commission, government commission, commission report

Money paid to someone for arranging a sale or another business deal.

• The agent charges a commission.
• We paid no commission when we exchanged money.
• How much commission does the broker take?

How to use it: commission on something (The broker charges commission on each transaction.)

Similar words: fee

Common phrases: pay commission, charge commission, broker commission

A particular job that someone asks or instructs you to do.

• She accepted a difficult commission.
• His commission was to deliver the letter.
• The artist completed three commissions this month.

How to use it: commission to do something (His commission was to record the village history.)

Similar words: assignment, task

Common phrases: accept a commission, complete a commission, special commission

Official permission or responsibility to carry out a particular duty.

• The king granted him a commission.
• Her commission gave her authority to inspect the records.
• They acted under a commission from the government.

How to use it: commission to do something (They received a commission to investigate the dispute.)

Similar words: mandate, authorization

Common phrases: royal commission, grant a commission, commission to investigate

An official appointment that makes someone an officer in the armed forces.

• He received an army commission.
• She resigned her commission after ten years.
• The navy offered him a commission.

Similar words: appointment

Common phrases: army commission, receive a commission, resign a commission

To formally ask someone to do a job or create something, usually for payment.

• We commissioned a new study.
• She commissioned an artist to paint her dog.
• Who commissioned this report?

How to use it: commission someone to do something (The council commissioned an architect to design the library.)

Similar words: hire, engage

Common phrases: commission a report, commission an artist, commission a study, commission a portrait

To officially give someone a duty or send them to carry it out.

• The government commissioned her to inspect the schools.
• He was commissioned to recover the missing papers.
• They commissioned two officers to lead the mission.

How to use it: commission someone to do something (The minister commissioned a team to investigate the accident.)

Similar words: appoint, assign, authorize

Common phrases: commission someone, commission an officer, commission a team