official

1 of 2

noun

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

official

2 of 2

adjective

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

an official statement

an official biography

b

: prescribed or recognized as authorized

an official language

the official policy

c

: done in a public and formal way

The museum's official opening is next week.

d

: 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

officially

ə-ˈfi-sh(ə-)lē 

ō-

adverb

Synonyms of official

Noun

• officer

Adjective

• authorized

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

Noun

In neighboring Uganda, officials said laboratory results confirmed two cases in the capital of Kampala − including one death − among people traveling from Congo with no apparent link to each other. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 May 2026

Djena’s father, who had the title of chief hunter in the town, was a loyal aide to Marcel Cros, a senior official in the government of Ahmed Sékou Touré, Guinea’s first President. —Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026

Adjective

But with the mood in the Islamic Republic increasingly tense, and the country potentially on the brink of a resumption of war, all but the hardline official messaging seems to be drowned out. —Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 18 May 2026

Watch the official livestream replay now and immerse yourself in one of the most exciting student fashion events in the world. —AJC.com, 18 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "person presiding over an ecclesiastical court, domestic retainer," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin officiālis "person performing the duties of an office, head of an ecclesiastical court," going back to Latin, "attendant on a magistrate," derivative of officiālis "pertaining to fixed duties" — more at official entry 2

Adjective

Middle English, "functional (of a part of the body)," borrowed from Medieval Latin officiālis "functional, pertaining to duties of an office," going back to Latin, "pertaining to fixed duties," from officium "duty, office" + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing official

• co-official

Rhymes for official

• initial
• judicial
• marischal
• simplicial
• surficial
• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial

Kids 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 adjective

1

: 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

officially

-ˈfish-(ə-)lē 

adverb

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

officially

-ˈfish-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

official

1 of 2 noun

of·​fi·​cial

: one who holds or is invested with an office especially in government

a municipal official

official

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or holding an office, position, or trust

official duties

2

: fully authorized

an official policy of the bank

officially adverb