officiate

verb

of·​fi·​ci·​ate ə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce officiate (audio)
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 noun

Examples of officiate in a Sentence

The bishop officiated the memorial Mass. Two referees officiated the hockey game.
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 pair tied the knot in April 2023 in a wedding officiated by Kim Kardashian, and they were serenaded by country superstar Shania Twain. Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025 Much of the controversy surrounds how the play is officiated, with the Eagles’ offensive line often getting a split-second head start on the snap. Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 The league has made officiating the play a point of emphasis, and it might be called even more tightly after the Eagles ran it four plays in a row against the Giants. Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 She’s officiated nine years in the G-League, working each of the last three G-League Finals, has worked each of the last four WNBA postseasons and referred men’s and women’s games in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for officiate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of officiate was in 1623

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Officiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/officiate. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

officiate

verb
of·​fi·​ci·​ate ə-ˈfish-ē-ˌāt How to pronounce officiate (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on officiate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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