commodore
commodore Lexical Profile
commodore Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A commissioned naval officer of high rank, positioned above a captain and below a rear admiral, or a senior captain holding temporary command of a squadron of ships.
"The commodore inspected the naval squadron before the fleet departed for the training exercise."
The president or chief presiding officer of a yacht club or boating association.
"The yacht club's newly elected commodore welcomed the sailors to the annual summer regatta."
The senior captain of a merchant shipping line or a convoy of commercial vessels, recognized for long and distinguished service.
"After forty years at sea, he was named commodore of the passenger cruise line's entire fleet."
Word Nuance & Usage
In the United States Navy, 'commodore' is now primarily used as an honorary title for a captain commanding a squadron or air wing rather than a permanent commissioned rank, whereas in the British Royal Navy and several Commonwealth navies it remains an active substantive rank between captain and rear admiral.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 17th century from Dutch 'kommandeur', which itself came from French 'commandeur' (commander), ultimately tracing back to Medieval Latin 'commendator'.