commissar
/ˈkɑ.məˌsɑɹ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.68 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An official of the Communist Party, often attached to a military unit, who was responsible for political education.
noun
The head of a commissariat.
noun
A political functionary whose job is to push the party or government line.
Colloquial; Humorous
Example Sentences
- "On Monday, state media named Wang Houbin as commander of the Rocket Force and Xu Xisheng as the political commissar of the force in a report highlighting their promotion to the rank of general by Chinese leader Xi Jinping."
- "There is a dangerous censoriousness pulsing through American society. In small towns and big cities alike, would-be commissars are fighting, in the name of a distinct minority of Americans, to stifle open discussion and impose their views on the community at large. Dissenters, when they speak out, are hounded, ostracized and sometimes even forced from their jobs."
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian комисса́р (komissár), from German Kommissar (“commissioner”), from Latin commissarius, from commissus, past participle of committō (“to commit, entrust to”). Doublet of commissary.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: Kommissar, commissarius
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkɑ.məˌsɑɹ/
- British English: /ˌkɒmɪˈsɑː/