noun
commissary
KOM-ih-sree
noun
1
A store that sells food and supplies to people in an institution, such as soldiers or prisoners.
"Inmates can buy snacks and toiletries from the prison commissary."
2
A cafeteria on a film or television studio lot.
"The actors grabbed lunch at the studio commissary between takes."
How to Use Commissary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA store or cafeteria that serves people within a specific institution, such as a prison, base, or film studio.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
prison commissary
studio commissary
commissary funds
Word Forms
commissaries plural
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Inmates can buy snacks and toiletries from the prison _____.
Etymology
From Late Latin commissarius, from committere ("to entrust") — a doublet of "commissar."