commission

Everyday

1. A commission is an official group of people chosen to find out about something or to run something, like a road safety commission. tree →
2. (money) A commission is money paid to a salesperson as a part (a percentage) of what they sell. tree →
3. To commission something is to ask an artist, writer or builder to make it for you and pay them. tree →
4. (army) A commission is an officer's official rank. tree →
5. Out of commission means broken or not working. tree →
6. A commission can also be a task or errand that someone is sent to do. tree →

In the lessons

In money and maths problems, commission is a percentage of sales: 10% commission on a sale of £500 is £50. In the news, commissions investigate events. Artists and composers are commissioned to make new works. Phrases: «earn commission», «on commission», «out of commission», «commission a painting».

Examples

• The shop assistant earns commission on every phone she sells. tree →
• She gets 5% commission, so on £200 of sales she earns £10. tree →
• The government set up a commission to look into the flooding. tree →
• The town commissioned a statue of the famous nurse. tree →
• The lift is out of commission, so we took the stairs. tree →
• The artist got a commission to paint the mayor. tree →
• He received his commission as an officer in the army. tree →
• The fish executed his commission, and they brought the treasure back to their master. tree →

Note

Spelling: double m, double s: co-MM-i-SS-ion. Maths: commission = rate × sales, e.g. 8% of 300 = 0.08 × 300 = 24. Related: «commissioner» (a member or head of a commission). Do not confuse with «omission» (leaving something out).

In Jewish tradition

An official written order from the king giving authority to officials. In the primary lessons: In money and maths problems, commission is a percentage of sales: 10% commission on a sale of £500 is £50. In the news, commissions investigate events. Artists and composers are commissioned to make new works. Phrases: «earn commission», «on commission», «out of commission», «commission a painting».

Examples

• And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River; and they furthered the people and the house of God. (Writings EZR.8.36, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: double m, double s: co-MM-i-SS-ion. Maths: commission = rate × sales, e.g. 8% of 300 = 0.08 × 300 = 24. Related: «commissioner» (a member or head of a commission). Do not confuse with «omission» (leaving something out).