Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

ex officio

adverb or adjective ex of·fi·cio \ ˌek-sə-ˈfi-shē-ˌō , -sē- \
|Updated on: 27 May 2018

Definition of ex officio

: by virtue or because of an office
  • the Vice President serves ex officio as president of the Senate

See ex officio defined for English-language learners

See ex officio defined for kids

Recent Examples of ex officio from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ex officio.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ex officio

Late Latin

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

EX OFFICIO Defined for English Language Learners

ex officio

adverb

Definition of ex officio for English Language Learners

  • : because of your job, office, or position

Law Dictionary

ex officio

adverb or adjective ex of·fic·io \ ˈeks-ə-ˈfi-shē-ō, -sē-ō \

legal Definition of ex officio

: by virtue or because of an office
  • the Vice President serves ex officio as president of the Senate
  • an ex officio member of the board

Origin and Etymology of ex officio

Late Latin

Learn More about ex officio

  1. See words that rhyme with ex officio

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ex officio? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

voracity

play

the quality or state of being insatiable

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

ex officio

Test Your Vocabulary

Name More Food!

  • red-fruit
  • Name that Fruit!
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games