Etymology Map
Back to all words

Commissar

2 stages from Russian to English.

Today it means a Communist Party official, especially a political officer in the Red Army

Where does the word "commissar" come from? It comes from Russian komissar, adopted directly into English (1917).

1
Stage 1 of 2
komissar
Russian · 1917
"Soviet government head of department"
from German Kommissar (Medieval Latin commissarius 'one entrusted'); Lenin's first government of November 1917 was the Council of People's Commissars, a title Trotsky recalled choosing to avoid the word 'minister'
2
Stage 2 of 2
commissar
English · 1917
"Communist official"
also meant the Red Army's political officers, who from 1918 co-signed commanders' orders to guarantee their loyalty
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Commissar’s story begins in Russian: komissar meant “Soviet government head of department.” From German Kommissar (Medieval Latin commissarius 'one entrusted'); Lenin's first government of November 1917 was the Council of People's Commissars, a title Trotsky recalled choosing to avoid the word 'minister'. It reached English by 1917 as commissar. Also meant the Red Army's political officers, who from 1918 co-signed commanders' orders to guarantee their loyalty. Today, commissar means a Communist Party official, especially a political officer in the Red Army.