com·mis·sion   (kə-mĭsh'ən)    n.   The act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty. The authority so granted. The matter or task so authorized: Investigation of fraud was their commission. A document conferring such authorization. A group of people officially authorized to perform certain duties or functions: The Federal Trade Commission investigates false advertising. often Commission A ruling council within the Mafia that adjudicates family disputes and regulates family activities. An official document issued by a government, conferring on the recipient the rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces. The rank and powers so conferred. A group of people officially authorized to perform certain duties or functions: The Federal Trade Commission investigates false advertising. often Commission A ruling council within the Mafia that adjudicates family disputes and regulates family activities. An official document issued by a government, conferring on the recipient the rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces. The rank and powers so conferred. The act of committing or perpetrating: the commission of a crime. A fee or percentage allowed to a sales representative or an agent for services rendered. An official document issued by a government, conferring on the recipient the rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces. The rank and powers so conferred. tr.v.   com·mis·sioned, com·mis·sion·ing, com·mis·sions To grant a commission to. See Synonyms at authorize. To place an order for: commissioned a new symphony for the festival. To put (a ship) into active service. [Middle English commissioun, from Latin commissiō, commissiōn-, from commissus, past participle of committere, to entrust; see commit.] com·mis'sion·a·ble adj., com·mis'sion·al adj.

Commission

Com*mis"sion\, n. [F., fr. L. commissio. See Commit.]

1. The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of perpetrating.

Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness. --South.

2. The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust shall be executed.

3. The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a trust; a charge.

4. A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties.

Let him see our commission. --Shak.

5. A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority; as, a colonel's commission.

6. A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the execution of some trust; as, the interstate commerce commission.

A commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter. --Prescott.

7. (Com.) (a) The acting under authority of, or on account of, another. (b) The thing to be done as agent for another; as, I have three commissions for the city. (c) The brokerage or allowance made to a factor or agent for transacting business for another; as, a commission of ten per cent on sales. See Del credere.

Commission of array. (Eng. Hist.) See under Array.

Commission of bankruptcy, a commission appointing and empowering certain persons to examine into the facts relative to an alleged bankruptcy, and to secure the bankrupt's lands and effects for the creditors.

Commission of lunacy, a commission authorizing an inquiry whether a person is a lunatic or not.

Commission merchant, one who buys or sells goods on commission, as the agent of others, receiving a rate per cent as his compensation.

Commission, or Commissioned, officer (Mil.), one who has a commission, in distinction from a noncommissioned or warrant officer.

Commission of the peace, a commission under the great seal, constituting one or more persons justices of the peace. [Eng.]

To put a vessel into commission (Naut.), to equip and man a government vessel, and send it out on service after it has been laid up; esp., the formal act of taking command of a vessel for service, hoisting the flag, reading the orders, etc.

To put a vessel out of commission (Naut.), to detach the officers and crew and retire it from active service, temporarily or permanently.

To put the great seal, or the Treasury, into commission, to place it in the hands of a commissioner or commissioners during the abeyance of the ordinary administration, as between the going out of one lord keeper and the accession of another. [Eng.]

The United States Christian Commission, an organization among the people of the North, during the Civil War, which afforded material comforts to the Union soldiers, and performed services of a religious character in the field and in hospitals.

The United States Sanitary Commission, an organization formed by the people of the North to co["o]perate with and supplement the medical department of the Union armies during the Civil War.

Syn: Charge; warrant; authority; mandate; office; trust; employment.

commission

A fee paid to a broker or other financial agent for negotiating a sale. The fee is based on a percentage of the sale price.

commission 

Commission

A service charge assessed by an agent in return for arranging the purchase or sale of a security or real estate. The commission must be fair and reasonable, considering all the relevant factors of the transaction. Commissions vary widely from broker to broker.

Investopedia Commentary

The brokerage with the lowest commissions is not necessarily the best one - you get what you pay for. Discount brokerages offer no advice, which can prove to be troublesome for many rookie investors. On the other hand, full-service brokerages offer a more personalized service, but commissions are much higher.

Related Links

Brokers and Online Trading
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See also: Analyst, Broker, Discount Broker, May Day, Real Estate Agent

commission

The fee levied by a broker to undertake a trade on behalf of a customer. Because the amount of the commission for a particular trade is no longer fixed, it can vary considerably among firms. See also discount brokerage firm, full-service brokerage firm.

To what degree are brokerage commissions or other fees negotiable? The ability to negotiate fees and commissions varies from firm to firm. Some firms are very flexible and give the individual advisors and brokers the ability to negotiate fees to some extent. Some firms offer a discount service via the Internet as well as a full service account. The degree of personal service and advice the investor requires will influence the amount of the discount. George Riles, First Vice President and Resident Manager, Merrill Lynch, Albany, GA

Main Entry: com·mis·sion
Function: noun
1 : a formal written authorization to perform various acts and duties commission>
2 a : authority to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another b : a task or matter entrusted to one as the agent for another
3 a : a group of persons directed to perform a duty b usually cap : a government agency Commission> —see also AGENCY c : a city council having legislative and executive functions
4 : an act of committing something <commission of the crime>
5 : a fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service; especially : a percentage of the money received paid to the agent responsible for the business —commission transitive verb

commission

see in commission; on commission; out of commission.