commandeer
kom-uhn-DEER
/ˌkɒmənˈdɪər/
To officially take possession of something, especially for military or public use, without the owner's consent.
Implies an urgent, authoritative seizure backed by legal or military power, distinct from simple theft.
The story behind the word. Borrowed during the Boer War from Afrikaans 'kommandeer', which came from Dutch and ultimately Latin 'commandare'. It described the practice of forcing civilians or their property into military service under a 'commando' system.
Word relationships
- seize: Seize is a general term for taking something by force, while commandeer specifically implies taking it for official, public, or military use.
- appropriate: Appropriate can mean to take something without permission, but commandeer carries a stronger sense of urgent, authoritative military necessity.
- relinquish: Relinquish means to voluntarily give up control or possession, which is the opposite of commandeering.
Commonly confused with
- confiscate: Confiscate means to seize property as a punishment or penalty, while commandeer means to seize it because the military or state needs to use it.
Word family
- commandeered (verb (past tense)): Seized for official use.
Collocations
- commandeer a vehicle
- commandeer resources
- commandeer property
Example sentences
- "The emergency services had to commandeer several private boats to rescue residents stranded by the flood." An account of a natural disaster response.
- "The retreating army began to commandeer horses and wagons from local farmers." A historical novel set during a war.
Memory hook
A commander steps in and says, 'I steer this now!' to commandeer a vehicle. Commander steers your gear.
When not to use
Do not use for casual borrowing or minor, non-authoritative taking of items.
Fun facts
- In many jurisdictions, police officers have the legal right to commandeer civilian vehicles during hot pursuits, though this is extremely rare in practice.
Related words
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