officiant

of·fi·ci·ant
O1F4F4I1C3I1A1N1T1
/əˈfɪʃi.ənt/

noun

A person who officiates at a religious ceremony (in Christianity, at any ceremony other than the Eucharist).

OriginMedieval Latin officiāns →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounofficiant (plural officiants)

plural officiants

  1. A person who officiates at a religious ceremony (in Christianity, at any ceremony other than the Eucharist).

    There are moments in a witchcraft ceremony when a god is believed to enter the body of the officiant.

    1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 72
  2. A person who officiates at a civil (non-religious) wedding ceremony.

Origin

  1. Medieval Latinofficiāns
  2. Englishofficiant

From Medieval Latin officiāns, present participle of officiō, officiāre (“to perform a duty or service”) (not to be confused with Classical officiō, officere (“to obstruct, hinder”)), a denominal verb from officium (“duty, service”).

More words from Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Standesbeamter, Liturg
  • Standesbeamterperson who officiates at a civil wedding ceremony
  • Liturgperson who officiates at a religious ceremony
  • Vorsteherperson who officiates at a religious ceremony
Cite this entry
APA

officiant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/officiant

MLA

“officiant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/officiant. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “officiant,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/officiant.

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