office

Definition of officenext

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 From paperbag shorts for everyday wear to flowy styles, vacation looks, and dressy trousers that even work for the office, shop our favorite shorts to complete every summer wardrobe—no denim needed. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 10 June 2026 In London itself, meanwhile, the hottest new tech cluster is the once-shabby King's Cross area, where OpenAI and Anthropic will shortly open offices. Ian King, CNBC, 10 June 2026 Stahl relayed the message to 60 Minutes staffers on Monday during a morale-boosting champagne toast at the show's New York office. Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026 As of this week, the president has been in office 72 weeks. Mathew Miranda june 10, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
Noun
  • The department would eventually sue the medical school if such a resolution is not found.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
  • The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to put the measure on the ballot, with an allocation plan that will move revenue primarily to nonprofit health care providers and county health departments and hospitals, but also to Planned Parenthood and city health care departments in Pasadena and Long Beach.
    Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • The Current did double World Cup duty Wednesday as the Netherlands also trained at the Current’s practice facility in Riverside.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
  • Drivers will still have to pay for car tax, servicing and MOTs with an EV, plus the government is planning to introduce pay-per-mile charges from April 2028 as a replacement for shrinking fuel duty revenues.
    Marc Shoffman, TheWeek, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • State election officials would also be given secure access to citizenship information maintained by federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the State Department.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
  • The health agency later said that Geo Group refused to allow inspectors to interview facility staff.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi appeared to acknowledge Iran's responsibility for the helicopter attack in a statement posted on social media.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • The Security Service of Ukraine later claimed responsibility for the assassination.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • Sacramento’s tourism bureau announced on Wednesday the lineup of chefs who will headline 2026’s Tower Bridge Dinner, a yearly event which highlights the region’s farm-to-fork culture.
    Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
  • Aoun spoke to a small number of reporters at the Baabe Palace Thursday morning, according to Mazen Ibrahim, the Beirut bureau chief of the Qatari-state outlet.
    Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • The United States would have 60 days to fulfill their obligations specified in the agreement, Aragchi said.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 13 June 2026
  • Roughly $30 billion of the ATM proceeds will cover 2026 calendar year employee equity tax obligations.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • JPMorgan’s trading desk said the S&P 500 could swing by more than 1% depending on this morning’s headline number.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 June 2026
  • Wimberly Interiors updated the accommodations with sculptural stone desks, marble that feels quarried for each room and soft coastal neutrals inspired by the Santa Cruz Mountains.
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • The tool eliminates the need for traditional public health data reports and fact sheets, which are limited to specific time periods and health categories.
    Velvet Wu June 5, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
  • Consider starting a light brainstorm with a teammate, using a quick sketch to express needs before words get heavy.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on office

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster