commission
commission — verb
1. to select a person or company and pay them to create something according to your
to select a person or company and pay them to create something according to your instructions, such as a painting, a building design, or a research report
The museum commissioned a local artist to paint a mural for the new exhibition hall.
commission + person + to-infinitive
The government has commissioned a study on the effects of noise pollution in cities.
passive: has been commissioned
Kofi spent two years on the portrait he was commissioned to paint for the university.
The film director commissioned a young composer to write the soundtrack for her new movie.
- cancel
to call off a previously commissioned piece of work
文法句型
commission + person + to-infinitive
commission + work
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive when the focus is on the person receiving the work. The subject is often an institution (museum, government, company) or a wealthy individual.
常見錯誤
2. to formally appoint someone to a military position such as lieutenant or captain
to formally appoint someone to a military position such as lieutenant or captain, giving them the authority that comes with that rank
After completing the training programme, Diego was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the navy.
passive: be commissioned as [rank]
The army commissioned twelve new officers during the graduation ceremony last Friday.
commission + number + officers
Priya hopes to be commissioned after she finishes her military academy studies next summer.
During the conflict, several experienced soldiers were directly commissioned as officers without attending the academy.
- discharge
to remove someone from military service
文法句型
commission + person + as + rank
用法筆記
Almost always passive or reflexive in meaning. Only used for military contexts; not used for police, fire departments, or corporate ranks.
常見錯誤
commission — noun
1. a team of individuals chosen by an authority to look into a problem, collect fac
a team of individuals chosen by an authority to look into a problem, collect facts, or suggest solutions
The European Commission proposed new rules to protect consumer data online.
proper noun: European Commission
A special commission was set up to investigate the causes of the factory explosion.
set up / establish a commission
The city planning commission meets every month to discuss new building projects.
Yara served on the health commission for five years before becoming its chairperson.
用法筆記
Takes a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is seen as a single unit ('the commission has decided') or as individuals ('the commission have disagreed').
常見錯誤
2. money paid to a salesperson, agent, or company that is calculated as a percentag
money paid to a salesperson, agent, or company that is calculated as a percentage of the value of the goods or services that they sell
Real estate agents earn a commission of about five percent on each house they sell.
collocation: earn a commission on [product]
Tomás works on commission, so his monthly income changes from month to month.
work on commission (payment system)
The sales team received a generous commission for selling two hundred cars in one quarter.
Nina gets a ten percent commission on every insurance policy she sells to new customers.
- percentage
refers only to the rate, not the actual money paid
- cut
informal; a share of profits or earnings
- kickback
negative connotation; implies illegal or unethical payment
- salary
fixed regular payment, not tied to sales performance
文法句型
commission on + product/service
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the payment system ('she works on commission') and countable when referring to a specific payment ('she earned three commissions this month').
常見錯誤
3. a formal request made to a creative professional, such as an artist or writer, a
a formal request made to a creative professional, such as an artist or writer, asking them to produce something and promising to pay them for it
The architect received a commission to design a new public library in the town centre.
collocation: receive a commission to [verb]
Kofi's latest commission was a series of sculptures for a private collector in Tokyo.
The composer wrote the symphony as a commission from the national orchestra.
Hana turned down several small commissions so she could focus on her own painting style.
- assignment
less formal; can apply to any task, not just creative work
- project
broader; does not imply a formal request from a client
- contract
focuses on the legal agreement rather than the creative request
文法句型
commission + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Closely related to verb sense 1 (REQUEST WORK). When 'commission' is a noun, the focus is on the project itself; when it is a verb, the focus is on the act of requesting it.
常見錯誤
4. the carrying out of an illegal action; the fact that someone has done something
the carrying out of an illegal action; the fact that someone has done something against the law
The police are investigating the commission of several serious crimes in the area.
collocation: the commission of [crime]
The court heard detailed evidence about the commission of the fraud over a five-year period.
The new law increases the penalties for the commission of drug-related offences.
Witnesses described the commission of the robbery in great detail during the trial.
- perpetration
more formal; emphasizes the carrying out of a harmful or criminal act
- execution
broader; can apply to any plan, not just crimes
- prevention
stopping a crime before it happens
文法句型
the commission of + crime/offence
用法筆記
Almost always used in formal legal writing or court language. In everyday speech, people say 'committing a crime' rather than 'the commission of a crime'. The word is uncountable and typically followed by 'of + crime/offence'.
常見錯誤
5. a formal paper that grants a person the rank and duties of a military leader suc
a formal paper that grants a person the rank and duties of a military leader such as a captain or colonel, together with the position this rank brings
Upon receiving his commission, Rohan was assigned to a unit stationed near the border.
receive a commission (military appointment)
Nadia holds a commission as an air force captain and has served ten years.
hold a commission as [rank]
The young officer resigned his commission after twelve years of active service.
A commission in the royal navy requires several years of specialised training and exams.
- appointment
broader; applies to any official position, not just military
- rank
the level of authority itself rather than the formal document conferring it
- enlistment
joining the military as a non-officer (enlisted personnel)
文法句型
hold a commission
commission as/in + branch
用法筆記
Closely related to verb sense 2 (MAKE OFFICER). When used as a noun, the focus is on the rank and document itself. Contrast with 'enlistment', which refers to joining as a non-officer (enlisted personnel).