officiate

verb

of·​fi·​ci·​ate ə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt 

officiated; officiating

intransitive verb

1

: to perform a ceremony, function, or duty

officiate at a wedding

2

: to act in an official capacity : act as an official (as at a sports contest)

transitive verb

1

: to carry out (an official duty or function)

2

: to serve as a leader or celebrant of (a ceremony)

3

: to administer the rules of (a game or sport) especially as a referee or umpire

officiation

ə-ˌfi-shē-ˈā-shən 

noun

Examples of officiate in a Sentence

The bishop officiated the memorial Mass.

Two referees officiated the hockey game.

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone who watched Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs could not have missed the latter’s head coach, Andy Reid, imploring the officiating crew to throw a flag on the Eagles’ vaunted Tush Push. —Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025

Now, trouble officiating the play may provide the necessary momentum to ban it next offseason. —Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025

Not only did Ackles introduce Morgan to his wife, Hilarie Burton, back in 2009, but the trio also got matching tattoos at the wedding, which Ackles also officiated. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 13 Sep. 2025

They were joined by Majors’ mom, Terri Anderson-Watson, who officiated the wedding. —Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin officiātus, past participle of officiāre "to perform a function, perform priestly duties," going back to Late Latin officiārī "to perform a function," derivative of Latin officium "duty, office"

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for officiate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

officiate

verb

of·​fi·​ci·​ate ə-ˈfish-ē-ˌāt 

officiated; officiating

1

: to perform a ceremony

officiate at a wedding

2

: to act as an officer

officiated at the annual meeting

3

: to enforce the rules of (a game or sport)

officiate a soccer match