# commandant

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɒməndænt/ · frequency rank #21,164

## Definitions
1. A commanding officer, usually of a specific force or division.
2. A military rank equivalent to major used in some countries, especially when derived from French usage.
3. lieutenant-colonel

## 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 comander
Middle French commander
French commanderder.
French commandant
English commandant
From French commandant.

## Easily confused with
- **commanding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/commandant-vs-commanding)
- **commandment** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/commandant-vs-commandment)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ccommandant`, `cmomandant`, `comamndant`, `comandant`, `commadnant`, `commanadnt`, `commandannt`, `commandantt`, `commandatn`, `commanddant`, `commandnat`, `commanndant`, `commnadant`, `ocmmandant`

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