noun
commissariat
An administrative office or organization run by political commissars.
The commissariat oversees local administration under the direction of political commissars.
Etymology
Russian komissariat named an administrative department headed by a commissar. English uses the borrowed institutional name for an office or organization operating under those political officials.
More examples
- Residents submit housing requests to the commissariat.
- The education commissariat issues new guidelines for schools.
- Several commissariats coordinate the government's economic plans.
Forms
commissariat · commissariats
commissar noun — An official who exercises political authority.