commissionaire

IPA/kəˌmɪʃəˈneə(r)/
IPA/kəˌmɪʃəˈner/

commissionaire — noun

  • commissionairesingular
  • commissionairesplural

1. a man in a decorative uniform, stationed by the main doors of hotels, restaurant

1.nounC1
Definition

a man in a decorative uniform, stationed by the main doors of hotels, restaurants, and theatres, to greet arrivals, open doors, and help with luggage and taxis.

Example

Leila smiled as the commissionaire held an umbrella over her head by the taxi door.

commissionaire + holds umbrella — assisting in rain

Tomás asked the commissionaire to call a taxi while the bellboy handled the luggage.

ask the commissionaire + to-infinitive — making a request

Common collocations
  • uniformed commissionaire
  • ask the commissionaire
  • the commissionaire opens
  • the commissionaire holds
  • the commissionaire calls
Synonyms
  • doorman

    the most common everyday term; less formal and can describe any person who stands at a door, including nightclub security

  • porter

    often carries luggage inside the building or up to rooms; overlaps with commissionaire in some hotel contexts

  • concierge

    works inside the hotel lobby and handles reservations, directions, and local recommendations rather than door duties

Grammar Patterns

the commissionaire + verb

ask the commissionaire + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Commonly used in British English for a uniformed employee at the entrance of a hotel or theatre. Unlike a doorman (which can be casual or security-oriented), a commissionaire almost always wears a formal uniform and focuses on service and welcome. Unlike a porter (who carries luggage inside the building) or a concierge (who handles bookings and local information), the commissionaire's role is primarily at the front entrance.

Common Mistakes

The commissioner at the hotel called a taxi for us.
The commissionaire at the hotel called a taxi for us.
commissioner means a high-ranking official in an organisation or government; commissionaire is a uniformed door attendant.
We left our bags with the commissionaire at the front desk.
We left our bags with the porter at the front desk.
a commissionaire works at the entrance, not the front desk inside the lobby.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A commissionaire is the most formal and specifically uniformed of these four roles. A doorman is the broadest term — it can refer to anyone who stands at a door, from a casual hotel employee to a nightclub security guard, and has no formal uniform requirement. A porter focuses on carrying luggage inside the building and often works behind the scenes rather than greeting guests at the entrance. A concierge works at a desk inside the lobby and handles dinner reservations, show tickets, and tourist directions — they rarely open doors. A bellboy (or bellhop in American English) carries bags to guest rooms. All four overlap in hotels, but only the commissionaire is defined by his station at the front door and his formal uniform. Example: 'The commissionaire greeted us warmly at the entrance, while the concierge inside helped us book a tour for the next day.'

doorman ↗porter ↗concierge ↗bellboy

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • commissionaire on duty

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

Borrowed from French 'commissionnaire', meaning an agent or messenger, which itself comes from 'commission' (the authority to act for someone). The word entered English in the 18th century, originally referring to a person who ran errands or acted as a messenger. Over time it became associated specifically with uniformed attendants at the entrances of hotels and theatres, especially in Britain.