official

of·fi·cial
O1F4F4I1C3I1A1L1
Australia, Canada, US, UK/əˈfɪʃəl/Australia, Canada, US, UK[əˈfɪʃəl] ~ [əˈfɪʃɫ̩]

adjective

Of or about an office or public trust.

“official duties”

Similar
approvedrecognizedsanctioneddecreedaccreditedcommissionedlicensedex officio
Opposite
unofficial
OriginMiddle English official ← Old French official ← Latin officiālis →
Very commonScrabble 16
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Meanings

adjectiveofficial (comparative more official, superlative most official)

comparative more official · superlative most official

  1. Of or about an office or public trust.

    official duties

  2. Derived from the proper office or officer, or the appropriate authority; made or communicated by authority

    an official statement or report

  3. Approved by authority; authorized.

    The Official Strategy Guide

    1. Of a statementDubious but recognized by authorities as the truth or canon.

      Despite these testimonies, "accidental asphyxiation" remains his official cause of death.

  4. medicineSanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; officinal.

    an official drug or preparation

  5. Discharging an office or function.

    the stomach and other parts official unto nutrition

    1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC
  6. Relating to an office, especially a subordinate executive officer or attendant.
  7. Relating to an ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc., with charge of the spiritual jurisdiction.
  8. informalTrue, real, beyond doubt.

    Well, it's official: you lost your mind!

  9. medicineListed in a national pharmacopeia.
nounofficial (plural officials)

plural officials

  1. An office holder, a person holding an official position in government, sports, or other organization.

    In most soccer games, there are three officials: the referee and two linesmen.

    4 more examples

    Officials in the Firefly administration assure the Sylvanians they don't want war either.

    The company's officials became nabobs as it took on more and more power after Plassey.

    ...officials with their prehensile bottoms...

    1941, George Orwell, The Lion and the Unicorn, Pt. III

    If the takeover is approved, Comcast would control 20 of the top 25 cable markets […] Antitrust officials will need to consider Comcast’s status as a monopsony (a buyer with disproportionate power), when it comes to negotiations with programmers, whose channels it pays to carry.

    2014 March 15, “Turn it off”, in The Economist, volume 410, number 8878

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
approvedrecognizedsanctioneddecreed
Opposite
unofficial

adjectivehaving official authority or sanction

Similar
accreditedcommissionedlicensedex officioformalformalizedformalised
Opposite
unofficial

adjectiveverified officially

Similar
confirmed

adjectiveconforming to set usage, procedure, or discipline

Similar
prescribedregular

adjective(of a church) given official status as a national or state institution

Similar
establishedconstituted

nouna worker who holds or is invested with an office

Similar
functionary
Broader
skilled workertrained worker
Also see
above groundaccreditedcommissionedconfirmedcustomaryex officioformalfunctionaryhalalhomodoxkosherlicensedorthodoxprescribedproperregularroutine

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinofficium“duty, service”
  2. Latinofficiālis
  3. Old Frenchofficial
  4. Middle Englishofficial
  5. Englishofficial

From Middle English official, from Old French official, from Latin officiālis, from Latin officium (“duty, service”), by surface analysis, office + -ial.

More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic مَسْؤُول, رَسْمِيّ
  • مَسْؤُول (masʔūl)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • رَسْمِيّ (rasmiyy)approved by authority
  • مَسْئُول (masʔūl)office holder invested with powers and authorities
Bengali সরকারী, দাপ্তরিক
  • সরকারী (śorkari)approved by authority
  • দাপ্তরিক (daptorik)approved by authority
Bulgarian служе́бен, официа́лен
  • служе́бен (služében)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • официа́лен (oficiálen)derived from the proper office
  • служе́бен (služében)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • официа́лен (oficiálen)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • официа́лен (oficiálen)approved by authority
  • длъжностно́ лице́ (dlăžnostnó licé)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • чино́вник (činóvnik)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • чино́вница (činóvnica)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • съдия́ (sădijá)person responsible for applying the rules in a competition
Catalan oficial, oficial
  • oficialof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • oficialderived from the proper office
  • oficialdischarging an office or function
  • oficialrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • oficialapproved by authority
  • funcionarioffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Chinese Mandarin 官方, 正式
  • 官方 (guānfāng)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • 正式 (zhèngshì)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • 官方 (guānfāng)approved by authority
  • 正式 (zhèngshì)approved by authority
  • 官員 /官员 (guānyuán)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • 公務員 /公务员 (gōngwùyuán)office holder invested with powers and authorities
Czech oficiální, oficiální
  • oficiálnírelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • oficiálníapproved by authority
  • funkcionářoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • úředníkoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Danish officiel, embedsmand
  • officielapproved by authority
  • embedsmandoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • tjenestemandoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • dommerperson responsible for applying the rules in a competition
Dutch officieel, officieel
  • officieelof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • officieelrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • ambtelijkrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • officieelapproved by authority
  • beambteoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • functionarisoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • ambtenaaroffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Esperanto oficiala
  • oficialarelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
Estonian ametlik, ametlik
  • ametlikof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • ametlikapproved by authority
Finnish virallinen, virallinen
  • virallinenof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • virallinenderived from the proper office
  • virallinen(of alleged truth) canonical but disputed
  • virallinendischarging an office or function
  • virallinenrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • virka-relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • virallinenapproved by authority
  • viranomainenoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • virkamiesoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • virkailijaoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • toimihenkilöoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • toimitsijaoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • toimitsijaperson responsible for applying the rules in a competition
  • tuomariperson responsible for applying the rules in a competition
French officiel, officiel
  • officielrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • officielapproved by authority
  • cadreoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • fonctionnaireoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • jugeperson responsible for applying the rules in a competition
  • arbitreperson responsible for applying the rules in a competition
German offiziell, amtlich
  • offiziellrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • amtlichrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • dienstlichrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • offiziellapproved by authority
  • Beamteroffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • Beamtinoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Greek επίσημος, υπηρεσιακός
  • επίσημος (epísimos)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • υπηρεσιακός (ypiresiakós)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • επίσημος (epísimos)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • επίσημος (epísimos)approved by authority
  • αξιωματούχος (axiomatoúchos)office holder invested with powers and authorities
Hebrew רִשְׁמִי
  • רִשְׁמִי (rishmí)approved by authority
Hindi आधिकारिक, अधिकृत
  • आधिकारिक (ādhikārik)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • अधिकृत (adhikŕt)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • आधिकारिक (ādhikārik)derived from the proper office
  • अधिकृत (adhikŕt)derived from the proper office
  • अधिकारी (adhikārī)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • आधिकारिक (ādhikārik)approved by authority
  • अधिकृत (adhikŕt)approved by authority
  • अधिकारी (adhikārī)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • पदाधिकारी (padādhikārī)office holder invested with powers and authorities
Hungarian hivatalos, hivatali
  • hivatalosof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • hivataliof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • hatóságiderived from the proper office
  • hivatalos(of alleged truth) canonical but disputed
  • hivatalirelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • hivatalosrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • hivatalosapproved by authority
  • hivatalnokoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • tisztviselőoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • tisztségviselőoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • játékvezetőperson responsible for applying the rules in a competition
Icelandic opinber
  • opinberapproved by authority
Indonesian resmi, resmi
  • resmiderived from the proper office
  • resmirelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • resmiapproved by authority
  • pejabatoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Irish oifigiúil
  • oifigiúilapproved by authority
Italian ufficiale, ufficiale
  • ufficialeof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • ufficialederived from the proper office
  • ufficialerelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • ufficialeapproved by authority
  • funzionariooffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Japanese 表向きの, 公式
  • 表向きの (omotemuki no)(of alleged truth) canonical but disputed
  • 公式 (kōshiki)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • 公の (ōyake no)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • 正式な (seishiki na)approved by authority
  • 正式の (seishiki no)approved by authority
  • 役員 (yakuin)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • 役人 (yakunin)office holder invested with powers and authorities
Korean 공식, 공식적
  • 공식 (gongsik)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • 공식적 (gongsikjeok)approved by authority
  • 공무원 (gongmuwon)office holder invested with powers and authorities
Latin officialis, officialis
  • officialisof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • officialisderived from the proper office
  • officialrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • officialisoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Latvian oficiāls
  • oficiālsapproved by authority
Lithuanian oficialus
  • oficialusapproved by authority
Malay rasmi, rasmi
  • rasmiderived from the proper office
  • rasmiapproved by authority
  • pegawaioffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Māori whaimana, āpiha
  • whaimanaapproved by authority
  • āpihaoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Norwegian Bokmål offisiell, offisiell
  • offisiellrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • offisiellapproved by authority
  • (offentlig) tjenestemannoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Polish służbowy, oficjalny
  • służbowyof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • oficjalnyapproved by authority
  • oficjeloffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • urzędnikoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • urzędniczkaoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Portuguese oficial, oficial
  • oficialof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • oficialrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • oficialoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • funcionáriooffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Romanian oficial, oficial
  • oficialof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • oficialrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • oficialapproved by authority
  • funcționaroffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • funcționarăoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • oficialitateoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Russian служе́бный, должностно́й
  • служе́бный (služébnyj)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • должностно́й (dolžnostnój)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • официа́льный (oficiálʹnyj)derived from the proper office
  • официа́льный (oficiálʹnyj)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • служе́бный (služébnyj)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • должностно́й (dolžnostnój)relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • официа́льный (oficiálʹnyj)approved by authority
  • официа́льное лицо́ (oficiálʹnoje licó)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • чино́вник (činóvnik)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • чино́вница (činóvnica)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • слу́жащий (slúžaščij)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • функционе́р (funkcionér)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • должностно́е лицо́ (dolžnostnóje licó)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • судья́ (sudʹjá)person responsible for applying the rules in a competition
Slovak oficiálny, úradník
  • oficiálnyapproved by authority
  • úradníkoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • funkcionároffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Spanish oficial, oficial
  • oficialof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • oficialderived from the proper office
  • oficialrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • oficialapproved by authority
  • funcionariooffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Swahili rasmi, rasmi
  • rasmiderived from the proper office
  • rasmiapproved by authority
Swedish officiell, tjänsteman
  • officiellapproved by authority
  • tjänstemanoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • ämbetsmanoffice holder invested with powers and authorities
  • domareperson responsible for applying the rules in a competition
Tagalog tungkulanin
  • tungkulaninof or pertaining to an office or public trust
Turkish resmî, resmî
  • resmîrelating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant
  • resmîapproved by authority
  • memuroffice holder invested with powers and authorities
Ukrainian службо́вий, посадо́вий
  • службо́вий (službóvyj)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • посадо́вий (posadóvyj)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • офіці́йний (oficíjnyj)approved by authority
  • офіціа́льний (oficiálʹnyj)approved by authority
  • посадо́ва осо́ба (posadóva osóba)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • посадо́вець (posadóvecʹ)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • службо́ва осо́ба (službóva osóba)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • службо́вець (službóvecʹ)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • службо́вка (službóvka)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • урядо́ва осо́ба (urjadóva osóba)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • урядо́вець (urjadóvecʹ)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • чино́вник (čynóvnyk)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • суддя́ (suddjá)person responsible for applying the rules in a competition
Urdu مَعْرُوف, دَفْتَری
  • مَعْرُوف (ma'rūf)of or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • دَفْتَری (daftarī)approved by authority
  • سَرْکاری (sarkārī)approved by authority
  • اَدھِکاری (adhikārī)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • اَہَلکار (ahalkār)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • عُہ٘دے دار ('uhde dār)office holder invested with powers and authorities
  • مَامُور (māmūr)office holder invested with powers and authorities
Vietnamese chánh thức, chính thức
  • chánh thứcof or pertaining to an office or public trust
  • chính thứcof or pertaining to an office or public trust
Yiddish אָפֿיציעל
  • אָפֿיציעל (ofitsyel)of or pertaining to an office or public trust

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with official

initialjudicialartificialbeneficialunofficialsuperficialinterstitialsacrificialprejudicialextrajudicialsurficialsimplicialsyncytialFishelnonjudicialadventitialaltricialcicatricialcomitialedificialnoninitialnonofficialnonsuperficialorificial
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

official. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/official

MLA

“official.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/official. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “official,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/official.

Source: official on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.