commander in chief

/kəˌmændər ɪn tʃif/

Other forms: commanders in chief

The person in charge of a country's military forces is its commander in chief. In the United States, the president is commander in chief.

Think military commanders, like generals and majors — the person who outranks and officially oversees all of them is the commander in chief. George Washington was specifically referred to in this way in 1778. In most countries, like the U.S., the head of state is also the commander in chief. Others, like Germany and the Netherlands, divide these duties.

Definitions of commander in chief

1. noun

   the officer who holds the supreme command
   “in the U.S. the president is the commander in chief”

   synonyms: generalissimo

   type of:

   commandant, commander, commanding officer

   an officer in charge of a military unit