Admiral vs. Commodore: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Admiral is high-ranking naval officer. Commodore is lower than Admiral, often a senior captain or junior flag officer.
Key Differences
A senior rank in many navies, typically above captain. Commodore: Historically, a title for a navy captain commanding more than one ship.
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Commands large naval formations or fleets. Commodore: Often leads a small group of ships, subordinate to Admirals.
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Holds strategic responsibilities and high command authority. Commodore: Focuses on tactical operations, lesser in command hierarchy.
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Denotes a four-star rank in many navies. Commodore: Usually a one-star rank, but can vary between navies.
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Often part of the naval high command or joint chiefs. Commodore: Typically involved in field operations, not high-level strategy.
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Comparison Chart
Authority
Strategic and high-level decisions
Tactical operations, lower in hierarchy
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Admiral and Commodore Definitions
Admiral
A high-ranking naval officer.
The admiral commanded the entire fleet.
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Commodore
A title for a temporary command.
He was appointed commodore for the mission.
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Admiral
A title for the commander of multiple ships.
As an admiral, her responsibilities increased.
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Admiral
A senior naval rank, often four-star.
He was promoted to admiral after years of service.
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Commodore
A junior flag officer in some navies.
As a commodore, he was respected by his peers.
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Commodore
Commander of a small group of ships.
The commodore's tactical skills were exceptional.
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Admiral
A commissioned rank in the US Navy or Coast Guard that is above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral.
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Commodore
A commissioned rank formerly used in the US Navy that was above captain and below rear admiral. Abolished in 1899, it was restored temporarily during World War II and in the early 1980s.
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Admiral
One who holds the rank of admiral, Fleet Admiral, rear admiral, or vice admiral.
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Admiral
Any of various brightly colored nymphalid butterflies of the genera Limenitis and Vanessa, especially V. atalanta, having black wings with red bands.
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Commodore
Used as an honorary title for a captain in the US Navy in command of a fleet division or squadron.
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Admiral
A naval officer of the highest rank; the commander of a country's naval forces.
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Admiral
A naval officer of high rank, immediately below Admiral of the Fleet; the commander of a fleet or squadron.
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Admiral
A flag officer in the United States Navy or Coast Guard of a grade superior to vice admiral and junior to admiral of the fleet (when that grade is used). An admiral is equal in grade or rank to a four-star general.
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Commodore
(nautical) A (temporary) commander over a collection of ships who is not an admiral.
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Admiral
The ship which carries the admiral, the flagship; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.
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Admiral
Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Kaniska, Limenitis and Vanessa, especially a red admiral or white admiral.
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Admiral
A naval officer of the highest rank; a naval officer of high rank, of which there are different grades. The chief gradations in rank are admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral. The admiral is the commander in chief of a fleet or of fleets.
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Admiral
The ship which carries the admiral; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.
Like some mighty admiral, dark and terrible, bearing down upon his antagonist with all his canvas straining to the wind, and all his thunders roaring from his broadsides.
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Admiral
A handsome butterfly (Pyrameis Atalanta) of Europe and America. The larva feeds on nettles.
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Commodore
(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Parasarpa.
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Admiral
The supreme commander of a fleet; ranks above a vice admiral and below a fleet admiral
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Commodore
An officer who ranks next above a captain; sometimes, by courtesy, the senior captain of a squadron. The rank of commodore corresponds with that of brigadier general in the army.
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Commodore
A captain commanding a squadron, or a division of a fleet, or having the temporary rank of rear admiral.
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Admiral
A member of naval high command.
The admiral attended the defense meeting.
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Commodore
A title given by courtesy to the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels, and also to the chief officer of a yachting or rowing club.
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Admiral
A strategic leader in the navy.
The admiral formulated the naval strategy.
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Commodore
A familiar for the flagship, or for the principal vessel of a squadron or fleet.
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Commodore
A commissioned naval officer who ranks above a captain and below a rear admiral; the lowest grade of admiral
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are commodores part of the naval high command?
Commodores are generally not part of the high command; they focus on tactical operations.
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Is admiral a higher rank than commodore?
Yes, admiral is a higher rank than commodore.
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Do admirals participate in field operations?
Admirals usually focus on strategic planning rather than field operations.
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Do admirals have command over commodores?
Yes, admirals have command authority over commodores.
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How many stars does an admiral typically have?
Admirals typically have a four-star rank.
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Is the title of commodore permanent?
In some navies, commodore is a temporary title or rank.
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Can a commodore command a fleet?
Typically, commodores command smaller groups of ships, not entire fleets.
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What is the role of a commodore in the navy?
Commodores often lead small groups of ships and focus on tactical operations.
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Are commodores involved in strategic decisions?
Commodores are more involved in tactical decisions rather than strategic planning.
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How is the leadership style of an admiral different from a commodore?
Admirals focus on broad, strategic leadership, while commodores focus on tactical, operational leadership.
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What is a key responsibility of an admiral?
Admirals are responsible for strategic planning and high-level decision-making.
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Can a commodore become an admiral?
Yes, commodores can be promoted to admirals.
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Are admirals involved in diplomatic missions?
Admirals can be involved in diplomatic missions and represent naval interests.
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Does a commodore have authority over captains?
Yes, a commodore has authority over captains.
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Do commodores have a significant role in naval exercises?
Commodores play a significant role in leading and planning naval exercises.
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Is the rank of commodore common in all navies?
The rank of commodore varies in presence and significance across different navies.
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What qualifications are needed to become an admiral?
Admirals typically require extensive naval experience, leadership skills, and strategic acumen.
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Can admirals issue orders to commodores?
Yes, admirals can issue orders to commodores as part of the command hierarchy.
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Can a commodore serve on joint military committees?
Commodores may serve on joint military committees, but less frequently than admirals.
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What signifies the rank of an admiral?
The rank of an admiral is often signified by four stars and specific uniform insignia.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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