With no-one at the helm following commercial split (6)

I believe the answer is:

adrift

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'with no-one at the helm' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'following commercial split' is the wordplay.
'following' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'commercial' becomes 'ad' (abbreviation for advertisement).
'split' becomes 'rift' (I've seen this in other clues).
'ad'+'rift' is 'ADRIFT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for adrift that I've seen before include "Disoriented" , "'Directionless, floating freely (6)'" , "Off course" , "Purposeless" , "Unsettled or unanchored" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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