office

Synonym Chooser

How is the word office distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of office are duty, function, and province. While all these words mean "the acts or operations expected of a person or thing," office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others.

they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor — W. E. Gladstone

In what contexts can duty take the place of office?

While the synonyms duty and office are close in meaning, duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling.

it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case — R. B. Taney

When is it sensible to use function instead of office?

While in some cases nearly identical to office, function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work.

the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information — Aldous Huxley

When could province be used to replace office?

The meanings of province and office largely overlap; however, province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one.

I felt it was not my province to inquire — Anne Brontë

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of office The anxiety and fear that people bring to my office and to the delivery room about the many uncertainties associated with pregnancy and childbirth is palpable and legitimate. Tami S. Rowen, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025 Antonio Amorena, head travel designer and sales manager for the Milan office of luxury travel company Imago Artis Travel calls Brera his favorite neighborhood. Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said on Friday that King Charles III approved of the nomination. Elizabeth Pritchett , Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025 According to the sheriff’s office, two days prior to his body being found, the victim sent pictures to his family of a bear, which appeared to be a young male, in his campsite. Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
Noun
  • Early on, his department sent drones skyward to see how the store was managing incoming vehicles.
    Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Humphrey credits both trends to a shift in department culture.
    Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • All active-duty personnel stay on the job, but nearly half of the Department of War's 741,477 civilian employees could face furloughs.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Arenas was on duty staffing an ambulance in the city that morning when reports came in of people trapped inside a building that was on fire.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • After the disappointing finish to his team's season, Alonso declared his intent to opt out of the second year of his contract and re-enter free agency from the Marlins' visiting clubhouse.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The first wave of Social Security payments for the month of October is set to be sent to recipients this week, the first such disbursements under the agency's new paperless policy.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots toward crowds in some instances and denied responsibility for other casualties near aid hubs.
    Soph Warnes, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Bigger responsibilities were on the horizon.
    Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Komarczyk is believed to be living in Venezuela, according to the bureau.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • However, the federal shutdown forced the bureau to furlough employees as well as pause data collection and dissemination.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Previously, dog owners were only required to report bites to Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, with no obligation to share contact information with victims — leading to many unreported incidents, according to the agency.
    Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Powers at times structured the payments to avoid sending a single transaction of $10,000 or more to avoid triggering reporting obligations by the bank.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • One student whose desk is near the wall, asked to be moved after hearing about Sanford's pickup truck crashing into the church itself.
    John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • On a desk lay Michele’s Nellcôte bag, one of the designer’s most recent and successful designs.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The water system is in most urgent need of financial help, according to the IBA, largely due to the rising costs of buying water from the San Diego County Water Authority and the lack of regular rate hikes prior to 2023.
    Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
  • That should put you on track to find the ideal laser or ink tank printer for your needs.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on office

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