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 Among Torrey’s art collection, photographer Wolfgang Tillmans is a favorite, appearing both in his home and at his offices. — Gay Gassmann, Architectural Digest, 19 Oct. 2026 The Georgia film office lists 22 active movies and TV shows in the state, on par with the volume over the past two years. — Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The same letter noted the list of names from the DOJ included voters from outside Los Angeles County, whom the office does not maintain any records on. — Miles Parks, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026 The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s office. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
Noun
  • In January 2025, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch changed the department pursuit policy, barring cops from chasing after vehicles fleeing car stops unless a felony crime or a violent misdemeanor was committed.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The high amount of overtime at the mental health department is related mainly to nurses working at the state’s mental health hospitals, Whiting and Connecticut Valley Hospital, which are both in Middletown.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Those allegations include neglect of duty and violations of the department's code of conduct.
    — Derek James, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The university said Elizabeth Hall, associate vice chancellor for university compliance, was appointed to serve in both roles in addition to her existing duties.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The Ebola outbreak that began in DR Congo is becoming a continental crisis after authorities initially underestimated its spread, the head of Africa’s public health agency told Semafor as new cases were reported as far afield as Nigeria.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Trump could direct federal agencies to adopt a different name for the Atlantic or Pacific.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Rushing went through a learning curve juggling his defensive and offensive responsibilities, and navigating intense online scrutiny of his outbursts on the field and in the dugout.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Enroll your baby before the clock runs out Ensuring your newborn has health coverage is one of the first paperwork responsibilities that parents face in the whirlwind of bringing a baby home.
    — Stephanie O'Neill, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • There have been reports of internal strife at the London bureau at CBS News over the tone of its Middle East coverage since Bari Weiss, a strong supporter of Israel, took over as the network’s editor in chief last year.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Journalists from the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald, who work jointly in a shared bureau in Tallahassee, were pursuing those questions, too.
    — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Given that the United States keeps getting mired in errant conflicts, Congress urgently needs to reassert its constitutional obligation to approve acts of war and oversee retrenchment.
    — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Council members discussed how to balance the nonprofit’s need for a long-term agreement to attract donors with the city’s need to ensure the building remains in use and the organization fulfills its obligations.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Whereas most modern pinball designs start at the CAD desk, the upcoming Pinball Construction Set keeps the process entirely within a browser.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That demand has helped transform equity desks at the Big Three from cyclical, transactional businesses into more durable, high-margin lending engines, Wall Street executives say.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Start with the community With a pragmatic and fair approach, data center infrastructure can operate from a combination of baseload fuels, battery storage, and renewables, while prioritizing community needs and impacts.
    — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than as a one-time session, our survivorship clinic builds relationships with survivors, supporting them as their needs change over time.
    — Marci Lee Nilsen, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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