commission
A commission refers to a formal request for someone to perform a specific task or create a piece of work, often in an artistic or professional capacity. It also denotes a group of people officially charged with a particular function, or a percentage of money paid to an agent in a commercial transaction.
Examples
3 of 5He earned a small commission for selling the vintage car to a collector.
He earned a small percentage of the sale price for selling the vintage car to a collector.
The government has established a commission to investigate the environmental impact of the new dam.
The government has established an official inquiry group to investigate the environmental impact of the new dam.
I'm thinking of giving my friend a commission to paint a portrait of my cat.
I'm thinking of paying my friend to do a specific job, which is to paint a portrait of my cat.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'CO-MISSION': A group (Co) given a specific Mission (Task).
Quick Quiz
The city council has set up a _____ to look into the causes of the recent flooding.
Correct!
The correct answer is: commission
Examples
He earned a small commission for selling the vintage car to a collector.
everydayHe earned a small percentage of the sale price for selling the vintage car to a collector.
The government has established a commission to investigate the environmental impact of the new dam.
formalThe government has established an official inquiry group to investigate the environmental impact of the new dam.
I'm thinking of giving my friend a commission to paint a portrait of my cat.
informalI'm thinking of paying my friend to do a specific job, which is to paint a portrait of my cat.
The commission's report highlighted several systemic failures in the regional healthcare department.
academicThe official committee's report highlighted several systemic failures in the regional healthcare department.
Sales staff at this firm receive a base salary plus a 10% commission on all deals closed.
businessSales staff at this firm receive a base salary plus a 10% performance-based fee on all deals closed.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
out of commission
not in working order; broken or unavailable
on commission
working for payment that is a percentage of sales rather than a fixed salary
in commission
ready for service or use (often used for ships or equipment)
Often Confused With
Permission is the act of allowing someone to do something, while a commission is a specific request or authorization to perform a task.
A mission is a broad purpose or goal, whereas a commission is usually a specific paid task or an official group.
Usage Notes
At the C1 level, distinguish between the 'financial' meaning (sales fee) and the 'organizational' meaning (a group like the European Commission). When used as a verb, it almost always implies a formal hiring process for a professional service.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'commission' when they mean a general 'task' or 'homework'. Remember that a commission usually involves a formal contract or a financial agreement.
Memory Tip
Think of 'CO-MISSION': A group (Co) given a specific Mission (Task).
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'commissio', meaning 'bringing together' or 'entrusting', from 'committere'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Commonwealth countries, a 'Royal Commission' is the highest level of public inquiry into matters of great importance.
Quick Quiz
The city council has set up a _____ to look into the causes of the recent flooding.
Correct!
The correct answer is: commission
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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