officeholder

noun

of·​fice·​hold·​er ˈä-fəs-ˌhōl-dər How to pronounce officeholder (audio)
ˈȯ-
: one holding a public office

Examples of officeholder in a Sentence

the last officeholder was extremely conscientious about not using public funds for his personal gain
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The primary election isn’t until Aug. 4, 2026, but 11 candidates have filed to run so far — from ambitious statewide officeholders to prominent lawmakers, former officials and entrepreneurs. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2025 Besides the Larson race, challengers are stepping forward against Connecticut’s longtime officeholders across the state with less than 16 months from Election Day. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2025 Musk's threat to back the unseating of officeholders deviating from fiscal conservatism raises questions about grassroots accountability, donor influence and the enduring sway of Trump within GOP ranks. Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025 The threats range from insults to physical attacks, according to the report, with 18% of local officeholders experiencing threats. Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for officeholder

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of officeholder was in 1787

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Officeholder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/officeholder. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

officeholder

noun
of·​fice·​hold·​er -ˌhōl-dər How to pronounce officeholder (audio)
: a person holding a public office

More from Merriam-Webster on officeholder

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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