officious

adjective

of·​fi·​cious ə-ˈfi-shəs 

1

: volunteering one's services where they are neither asked nor needed : meddlesome

officious people who are always ready to offer unasked advice

2

: informal, unofficial

officious conversations between foreign ministers

3

archaic

a

: kind, obliging

b

: dutiful

officiously adverb

officiousness noun

Synonyms

• busy
• intrusive
• meddlesome
• intruding
• obtrusive
• annoying

Choose the Right Synonym for officious

impertinent, officious, meddlesome, intrusive, obtrusive mean given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others.

impertinent implies exceeding the bounds of propriety in showing interest or curiosity or in offering advice.

resented their impertinent interference

officious implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying.

officious friends made the job harder

meddlesome stresses an annoying and usually prying interference in others' affairs.

a meddlesome landlord

intrusive implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs.

tried to be helpful without being intrusive

obtrusive stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions.

expressed an obtrusive concern for his safety

Examples of officious in a Sentence

an officious little man who was always telling everyone else how to do their jobs

Recent Examples on the Web

The former is the nerdier, more officious type in his bow tie and sport coat, the latter more rakish, a one-time rabble rouser who’s just happy to have something interesting to do. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025

Fast & Furious is notable for adding the character Gisele (Gal Gadot) and smaller players like Shea Whigham's officious Stasiak. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025

There’s something officious about Alden Ehrenreich. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023

Her charming luxury treasure trove has none of that officious chilliness that defines the typical store of its ilk but instead feels like a brocanterie crammed with interesting, unexpected luxury goods from across the world. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin officiosus, from officium service, office

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Rhymes for officious

• adventitious
• cementitious
• expeditious
• inauspicious
• injudicious
• meretricious
• repetitious
• superstitious
• surreptitious
• unambitious
• unpropitious
• unsuspicious

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Kids Definition

officious

adjective

of·​fi·​cious ə-ˈfish-əs 

: volunteering one's services where they are not asked for or needed

officiously adverb

officiousness noun