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 Post-pandemic, vacancy rates at suburban office spaces ticked up from ~13%-17%, and many office parks in areas like the New Jersey suburbs are being transitioned into retail and housing. Mark Dent, HubSpot, 25 Apr. 2025 The supreme court could render a decision on whether Bar remains in office, and for how long, based on technical issues. Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2025 But on his first day in office, upon arriving at the White House from his inaugural ceremony, Trump settled the debate. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Apr. 2025 The space, which is located at 1415 4th Ave. had housed offices and a spa in the past, and because of this the layout includes a large main area and multiple smaller 10-foot by 13-foot rooms. Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
Noun
  • Holy Name also has a maternal-fetal medicine department where high-risk practitioners are on-call should they be needed.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Dugan’s criminal complaint shows she has been charged with concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest, and obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a federal department or agency.
    Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • President Donald Trump’s trade war has troubled markets and retail stocks in particular in recent weeks, especially his 145% duty on China .
    Brian Evans, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
  • There’s a lot of reason to like these odds as Raphinha is averaging 3.68 shots per 90 minutes on the year, 0.15 xG per shot (well above average), and will likely assume penalty duties in the absence of Lewandowski.
    Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • During an April 22 press conference, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency intends to revoke approvals for certain dyes and work alongside industry leaders to achieve elimination of the additives.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Processing times, country caps, and adjudication standards would all need to be codified, either through legislation or agency rule-making.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • When freed from this responsibility, women can pursue education that increases their earning potential by as much as twenty-five percent for each additional year in school.
    Megan Bruneau, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But adulthood can also come with come with a mountain of responsibility, from paying your own bills to deciding where to live, which can can be overwhelming to navigate all at once.
    Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • One of them also said his father works for China's public security bureau, raising questions about whether the students had been tasked with collecting intelligence on their government's behalf.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The news agency noted the search for survivors had ended and the fire had been extinguished, citing the provincial radio and television bureau.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Is disaster relief a federal obligation, a collective insurance policy for the nation?
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The masters of ballyhoo chopped it up on the delicate handling of awards campaigns, the elusiveness of Gen Z consumers and how marketing around blockbusters and franchises is now a year-round obligation to keep fans engaged and interested.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The big banks with large trading desks such as JPMorgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley profited significantly from stock, bond, and dollar volatility.
    Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Reparations legislation now on the governor’s desk, though morally grounded, is politically risky.
    Marc Lester, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • However, these new drugs carry significant challenges, including high costs, the need for frequent brain scans to monitor serious side effects and the risk of swelling or bleeding in the brain.
    Allen Chang, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Late last year, the district launched an initiative that provides cash payments for 12 months to 251 students with a demonstrated financial need who are pursuing health careers.
    Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on office

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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