as in officer
a person who holds a public office
some of our best public officials do their jobs quietly and are never in the news
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in authorized
ordered or allowed by those in authority
the official languages for those Olympic Games were French and English
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of official
Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Feb. 2026
Homan says cooperation with state officials is key to balancing aggressive immigration enforcement with public safety concerns.
—National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
The official Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday will feature Bad Bunny, the Grammy winner for album of the year, at the height of his powers and influence.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for official
Noun
White House officials have shared sentiments similar to the president’s and said Gabbard has been examining records from the 2020 elections.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Feb. 2026
Homan says cooperation with state officials is key to balancing aggressive immigration enforcement with public safety concerns.
—National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Sonia Randhawa, a Wrigleyville resident, is looking forward to the official release of the book, but went to the installation for her love of art.
—Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
The official Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday will feature Bad Bunny, the Grammy winner for album of the year, at the height of his powers and influence.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for official
Recent Examples of Synonyms for official
Noun
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The military offers its officers a variety of opportunities to get graduate-level education both at war colleges run by the military as well as civilian institutions like Harvard.—
JOCELYN GECKER,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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The trial is part of a broader push to hold more people accountable for a school shooting, a group that has grown to include parents and responding law enforcement officers.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Oficials said the effort succeeded thanks to widespread public participation, agency coordination and partnerships with authorized permit holders.—
WPEC Staff,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Feb. 2026
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Perspective patients can find an authorized practitioner directory on the Office of Medical Cannabis website.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Official.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/official. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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