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 4-year-old died at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office. Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025 Young professionals are in the office more than other generations, a recent study by real estate firm JLL found. Sawdah Bhaimiya aisha Ditta, CNBC, 19 May 2025 Barnstorming against oligarchy helped Ocasio-Cortez raise $9.6 million in the first quarter of the year, rekindling speculation about her viability as a candidate for higher office. Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 May 2025 President Donald Trump and the offices driving the budget and personnel reductions likely exceeded their authority, Illston wrote. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
Noun
  • The city of New Orleans and its police department urged residents and visitors to stay vigilant during the manhunt and report any suspicious activity, WDSU reported.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • Then, there was no mass exodus, department veterans say.
    Ryan Lucas, NPR, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Holden’s official duties took him out into the community doing public relations for the Army Air Forces.
    Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 May 2025
  • Throughout season 8, Gamble had struggled to reconcile her duties as an officer with her family's deep criminal history — her father's legacy as the murderer of an L.A. sheriff didn't do her any favors on the force.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • UnitedHealth has said in regulatory filings that investigations, audits and reviews by a dozen different government agencies are underway.
    Amina Niasse, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • According to the complaint, the water district and county have rejected Kenny’s legal claims, which typically precede a lawsuit against a government agency and give both parties a chance to settle the allegations themselves before going to court.
    Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Your routines, responsibilities, employment or health could have all budded happily.
    Kyle Thomas, People.com, 18 May 2025
  • For more than a decade, the Communist Party of China has positioned itself as a vocal opponent of terrorism in global fora, invoking the language of stability, responsibility, and multilateral cooperation.
    Jianli Yang, National Review, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • All no-knock warrants will be served by SWAT officers after approval from a bureau chief and a Cook County judge, according to the department.
    Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
  • In: United States Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RFK Jr. Alexander Tin Alexander Tin is a digital reporter for CBS News based in the Washington, D.C. bureau.
    Alexander Tin May 8, CBS News, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Small slivers of the population in cities, towns, and counties across the U.S., nearly every spring, are able to saddle their fellow residents with millions and in some cases billions of dollars worth of new tax and spending obligation.
    Patrick Gleason, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Wyden demanded detailed answers by May 22, including which officials signed off on the dismissals and how the department plans to fulfill its legal obligations under FOIA moving forward.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Nuñez, who is an accountant at The Truth Teller, sits at his desk in the background.
    Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 17 May 2025
  • When Meyers left in 2014, Jost joined Strong at the desk.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Work Mode: Maintains a stable, focused environment ideal for productivity, reducing the need for manual adjustments during the day.
    Jon Stojan, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • The Martens’ second trial was scheduled to start in the fall of 2023; however, Molly and Tom both accepted plea deals, eliminating the need for another trial.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on office

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