Commission vs. Omission: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Commission" refers to the act of granting authority to perform certain tasks or duties, or it can mean a fee paid for services. "Omission" is the act of leaving something out or failing to include something.
Key Differences
"Commission" often implies a task or duty given to someone, usually with some authority or responsibility attached. In contrast, "omission" refers to the act of neglecting or leaving something out, either intentionally or accidentally.
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In a business context, "commission" can refer to a fee earned for facilitating a transaction or service. On the other hand, "omission" in this context might indicate a failure to provide necessary information or perform an essential part of a task.
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The term "commission" can also describe an official group appointed to perform a specific function. Conversely, "omission" in legal or formal contexts often refers to the exclusion of important details or steps, which can have significant implications.
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"Commission" has a proactive connotation, suggesting action and involvement. In contrast, "omission" connotes a passive or negative action, implying a lack or deficit.
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Regarding moral or ethical discussions, a "commission" may refer to carrying out an act that has certain implications, whereas an "omission" might be about the moral implications of not acting or failing to act.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Act of assigning a task or a fee for service
Act of neglecting or leaving something out
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Examples in Sentences
"He received a commission for the sale."
"Her omission of facts misled the client."
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Commission and Omission Definitions
Commission
A group officially appointed to perform a task.
The commission investigated the incident thoroughly.
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Omission
Skipping a part or aspect in a process or narrative.
The movie's omission of the book's key scene disappointed fans.
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Commission
A fee paid for services, typically a percentage of the amount involved.
He earns a 10% commission on every sale.
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Omission
A failure to do something, especially something that one has a moral or legal obligation to do.
His omission to report the error caused further problems.
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Commission
The act of committing a crime.
He was found guilty of the commission of fraud.
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Omission
A person or thing that has been left out or excluded.
The key witness was a notable omission from the trial.
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Commission
The act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty.
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Omission
The action of excluding or leaving out someone or something.
The omission of her name from the list was intentional.
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Omission
The act of not including certain information.
The omission of important details compromised the report's accuracy.
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Commission
The matter or task so authorized
Investigation of fraud was their commission.
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Commission
A public board or administrative body
The Federal Trade Commission investigates false advertising.
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Commission
Often Commission A ruling council within the Mafia that adjudicates family disputes and regulates family activities.
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Omission
(uncountable) The act of neglecting to perform an action one has an obligation to do.
E&O insurance (for errors and omissions) covers both errors of commission and errors of omission.
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Commission
A fee or percentage allowed to a sales representative or an agent for services rendered.
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Omission
(countable) An instance of those acts, or the thing left out thereby; something deleted or left out.
The suspicious omissions in the new edition of the book attracted claims of censorship.
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Commission
An official document issued by a government, conferring on the recipient the rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces.
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Omission
Something not done or neglected.
The lack of a sponge count was an omission by the surgical team.
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Omission
(grammar) The shortening of a word or phrase, using an apostrophe ( ' ) to replace the missing letters, often used to approximate the sound of speech or a specific dialect.
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Omission
The act of omitting; neglect or failure to do something required by propriety or duty.
The most natural division of all offenses is into those of omission and those of commission.
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Commission
To grant authority for (something to be made or done); place an order for
Commission a new symphony for the festival.
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Commission
To authorize or engage (someone to do something)
Commission an architect to design a building.
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Omission
Something that has been omitted;
She searched the table for omissions
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Omission
Any process whereby sounds are left out of spoken words or phrases
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Commission
An official charge or authority to do something, often used of military officers.
David received his commission after graduating from West Point.
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Commission
The thing to be done as agent for another.
I have three commissions for the city.
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Commission
A body or group of people, officially tasked with carrying out a particular function.
The European Commission
The Electoral Commission
The Federal Communications Commission
The company's sexual harassment commission made sure that every employee completed the on-line course.
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Commission
A fee charged by an agent or broker for carrying out a transaction.
A reseller's commission
The real-estate broker charged a four percent commission for their knowledge on bidding for commercial properties; for their intellectual perspective on making a formal offer and the strategy to obtain a mutually satisfying deal with the seller in favour of the buyer.
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Commission
The act of committing (e.g. a crime or error).
The commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism
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Commission
(transitive) To send or officially charge someone or some group to do something.
James Bond was commissioned with recovering the secret documents.
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Commission
(transitive) To place an order for (often a piece of art).
He commissioned a replica of the Mona Lisa for his living room, but the painter gave up after six months.
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Commission
To put into active service.
The aircraft carrier was commissioned in 1944, during WWII.
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Commission
The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of perpetrating.
Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness.
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Commission
The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust shall be executed.
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Commission
The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a trust; a charge.
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Commission
A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties.
Let him see our commission.
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Commission
A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority; as, a colonel's commission.
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Commission
A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the execution of some trust; as, the interstate commerce commission.
A commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter.
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Commission
To give a commission to; to furnish with a commission; to empower or authorize; as, to commission persons to perform certain acts; to commission an officer.
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Commission
To send out with a charge or commission.
A chosen bandHe first commissions to the Latian land.
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Commission
A special group delegated to consider some matter;
A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours
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Commission
A fee for services rendered based on a percentage of an amount received or collected or agreed to be paid (as distinguished from a salary);
He works on commission
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Commission
The state of being in good working order and ready for operation;
Put the ships into commission
The motor was out of commission
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Commission
A formal statement of a command or injunction to do something;
The judge's charge to the jury
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Commission
An official document issued by a government and conferring on the recipient the rank of an officer in the armed forces
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Commission
A special assignment that is given to a person or group;
A confidential mission to London
His charge was deliver a message
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Commission
An instruction, command, or role given to a person.
She received a commission to paint the portrait.
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Commission
Bringing something newly produced into working condition.
The new factory was commissioned last month.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can a person be a "commission"?
No, a person cannot be a commission, but can be given or work on a commission.
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Is "omission" always intentional?
No, it can be either intentional or accidental.
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Does "omission" always have negative connotations?
Often, but not necessarily; context matters.
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Is "omission" used in legal documents?
Yes, particularly regarding the absence of necessary information.
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Can "omission" occur in spoken language?
Yes, like omitting a word or fact while speaking.
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Can "commission" refer to a group of people?
Yes, it can refer to a group appointed for a specific task.
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Are commissions always monetary?
No, they can also be assignments or roles.
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Can "commission" refer to a crime?
Yes, in legal terms, it can mean the act of committing a crime.
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Is "commission" positive?
It can be, especially when referring to earning a fee or being assigned a task.
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Can one decline a commission?
Yes, one can choose not to accept a commission.
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Can "omission" be a strategy in writing?
Yes, authors sometimes use omission for narrative effect.
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Is an omission always obvious?
Not always, it can be subtle or unintentional.
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Can omissions affect a narrative?
Yes, they can change the perception or flow of a story.
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Is an omission legally significant?
It can be, especially in contracts or testimony.
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Does a commission always involve payment?
Often, but not always; it can be honorary or unpaid.
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Can a commission be for a group project?
Yes, commissions can involve groups or teams.
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Can a commission be a one-time task?
Yes, commissions can be for specific, one-time tasks.
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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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