of·fi·cial
ə-ˈfi-shəl 
ō-
1
: one who holds or is invested (see invest entry 2 sense 1) with an office : officer
government officials
A company official responded to our request.
2
: one who administers the rules of a game or sport especially as a referee or umpire
a football official
1
: of or relating to an office, position, or trust
official duties
official documents
2
: holding an office : having authority
the president's official representative
3
a
: authoritative, authorized
official statement
an official biography
b
: prescribed or recognized as authorized
an official language
c
: described by the U.S. Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary
The official drug is sold under several trade names.
4
: befitting or characteristic of a person in office
extended an official greeting
official condolences
Synonyms
Examples of official in a Sentence
Noun
She interviewed a senior official from the previous administration.
A company official responded to our request.
Adjective
She was accused of destroying official documents.
Her illness did not prevent her from performing her official duties.
The Vice President is on an official trip.
We extended an official greeting to the ambassador.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Indeed, some officials say privately that the AfD’s links to Moscow may be just the most obvious manifestation of a far broader problem of covert Russian infiltration of Germany’s political parties and institutions.
—Erika Solomon, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
This is the first time U.S. officials have confirmed al-Logari was the bomber.
—Matt Seyler, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
The attack caused relatively minor damage, officials said.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2024
Keeping global energy markets supplied to help cool inflation is a priority for the administration, officials acknowledge.
—John Hudson, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Park officials called the behavior appalling, saying the damage can't be fixed.
—CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
In the wake of Houthi rebels’ assaults on commercial shipping in the Red Sea late last year, American officials repeatedly tried to prod Beijing into pressuring Tehran – which is believed to train, fund and equip the Houthis – to rein in the attacks.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The salvo was a response to Israel’s April 1 bombing of an Iranian consular office in Syria that killed several top Iranian military officials.
—Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
But days after the issues were first reported last week by tech news outlet The Markup, the city has opted to leave the tool on its official government website.
—Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
While there's no official dress code for viewing an eclipse, some enthusiasts will opt to wear red or green clothing.
—The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Four counts in the indictment — official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity — are tied to that interaction.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The Royals’ roster will become official on Thursday.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
Only dads wore street clothes and had no official role—a reflection of a traditional society in which mothers are expected to be married to fathers and tend to be the primary caregivers.
—Clarissa Wei, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2024
In China, the show was trending on social media on Friday despite its lack of official accessibility, according to Reuters.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2024
Harriman also came to the defense of Chris Allerton, the photographer behind the camera for Prince Archie's official christening portraits in 2019, who was also accused of editing.
—Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
My visit to Wisk coincided with the arrival of a delegation of Australian officials, who had come to watch a test flight at a rural airport.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Indeed, some officials say privately that the AfD’s links to Moscow may be just the most obvious manifestation of a far broader problem of covert Russian infiltration of Germany’s political parties and institutions.
—Erika Solomon, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
This is the first time U.S. officials have confirmed al-Logari was the bomber.
—Matt Seyler, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
The attack caused relatively minor damage, officials said.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2024
Keeping global energy markets supplied to help cool inflation is a priority for the administration, officials acknowledge.
—John Hudson, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024
Park officials called the behavior appalling, saying the damage can't be fixed.
—CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
In the wake of Houthi rebels’ assaults on commercial shipping in the Red Sea late last year, American officials repeatedly tried to prod Beijing into pressuring Tehran – which is believed to train, fund and equip the Houthis – to rein in the attacks.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The salvo was a response to Israel’s April 1 bombing of an Iranian consular office in Syria that killed several top Iranian military officials.
—Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
Adjective
General sale for North America and Europe will begin on Thursday, April 11 at 10 a.m. local time via the official Glass Animals website.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
But days after the issues were first reported last week by tech news outlet The Markup, the city has opted to leave the tool on its official government website.
—Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
While there's no official dress code for viewing an eclipse, some enthusiasts will opt to wear red or green clothing.
—The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Four counts in the indictment — official misconduct, making an unlawful proposition, public indecency and public nudity — are tied to that interaction.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The Royals’ roster will become official on Thursday.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
Only dads wore street clothes and had no official role—a reflection of a traditional society in which mothers are expected to be married to fathers and tend to be the primary caregivers.
—Clarissa Wei, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2024
In China, the show was trending on social media on Friday despite its lack of official accessibility, according to Reuters.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2024
Harriman also came to the defense of Chris Allerton, the photographer behind the camera for Prince Archie's official christening portraits in 2019, who was also accused of editing.
—Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'official.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near official
Cite this Entry
“Official.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/official. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
official
1 of 2 noun
of·fi·cial
ə-ˈfish-əl
1
: a person who holds an office
2
: a person who enforces the rules in a game or sport
official
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to an office
official duties
2
: having authority to perform a duty
the official government of the 13 colonies
3
: prescribed or permitted by authority
the official language
an official American League baseball
4
: proper for a person in office
an official greeting
Medical Definition
official
adjective
of·fi·cial
ə-ˈfish-əl
: prescribed or recognized as authorized
specifically
: described by the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary compare nonofficial, unofficial
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