What does commo mean?
Commo is an informal, clipped form of the word "communication" or "communications", used almost entirely within military, police, and emergency-services jargon. It typically refers to radio contact between units, the transmission of messages, or the electronic equipment that makes such contact possible. A soldier might say a patrol "lost commo" with base, meaning radio contact was broken, or refer to carrying spare "commo gear" on an operation. The word carries a casual, insider register: it signals familiarity with service life and would sound odd in civilian or formal contexts, where "communication" remains standard. Its brevity makes it practical in fast-moving operational speech, where clarity and speed matter more than polish. Though modest in scope, "commo" is a good example of how professional communities compress everyday vocabulary into compact, instantly recognizable shorthand.
noun"Commo" is an informal abbreviation for "communication" or "communications", especially in military and emergency-services jargon referring to radio or signal equipment and the exchange of messages.
- An informal clipping of 'communication' or 'communications', especially radio contact or signalling equipment in military and emergency-services contexts.
"The patrol lost commo with base when they entered the valley."
"The squad established commo with headquarters before advancing."
"Half our gear weight was batteries for the commo kit."
The plural is rare; the word is most often used uncountably or attributively.
"All the unit's commos were routed through the relay station."
Soldiers have been shortening "communication" to "commo" for decades — proof that even the most serious business of war gets the nickname treatment.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of commo
"Commo" arose as a spoken and written clipping of "communication" within English-speaking armed forces, likely during the twentieth century as radio became central to military operations. The parent word derives ultimately from Latin "communicare", meaning to share or make common, from "communis" (common, shared). It therefore shares deep roots with words like "common", "commune", and "community".
How commo is actually used
"Commo" is distinctly informal and chiefly military or emergency-services slang; it would be out of place in formal writing, where "communication" is preferred. It appears more often attributively ("commo equipment") than as a standalone noun in some varieties of English.
Easily confused with commo
"Combo" is a combination of things (such as a meal deal or musical group), whereas "commo" is a clipped form of communication.