# command

> English word · Noun · IPA /kəˈmɑːnd/ · frequency rank #2,032

## Definitions
1. An order to do something.
2. The right or authority to order, control or dispose of; the right to be obeyed or to compel obedience.
3. power of control, direction or disposal; mastery.
4. A position of chief authority; a position involving the right or power to order or control.
5. The act of commanding; exercise or authority of influence.
6. A body or troops, or any naval or military force, under the control of a particular officer; by extension, any object or body in someone's charge.
7. Dominating situation; range or control or oversight; extent of view or outlook.
8. A directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task.
9. The degree of control a pitcher has over his pitches.
10. A command performance.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱe
Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm
Proto-Italic *kom
Proto-Italic *kom-
Latin con-
Proto-Indo-European *(s)meh₂-der.
Proto-Italic *manus
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁tder.
Proto-Italic *-ðō
Proto-Italic *manuðō
Latin mandō
Latin commendō
▲
Latin mandōinflu.
Latin commandāre
Old French comanderbor.
Middle English comaunden
English command
From Middle English commanden, commaunden, comaunden, comanden, from Old French comander, from Late Latin commandāre, from Latin commendāre. Ultimately from Latin com- + mandō (whence ultimately also commend (a doublet), mandate, and recommend), from manus + -dō.
Compare typologically Russian поручи́ть (poručítʹ), поруче́ние (poručénije), руководи́ть (rukovodítʹ), руководи́тель (rukovodítelʹ) related to рука́ (ruká).

## Easily confused with
- **common** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-common)
- **conman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-conman)
- **company** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-company)
- **comment** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-comment)
- **commons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-commons)
- **commune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-commune)
- **commend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-commend)
- **comming** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-comming)
- **commands** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-commands)
- **commando** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-commando)
- **commander** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-commander)
- **commanded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/command-vs-commanded)
- **comma** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/comma-vs-command)
- **Colman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/colman-vs-command)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ccommand`, `cmomand`, `comamnd`, `comand`, `commadn`, `commandd`, `commannd`, `commnad`, `ocmmand`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/command