Synonyms of official

official 1 of 2

noun

ə-ˈfi-shəl 

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

• officer
• administrator
• director
• manager
• executive
• functionary
• commissioner
• public servant
• officeholder
• chair
• chairman
• superintendent
• supervisor
• bureaucrat
• regulator
• head
• minion
• flunky
• underling
• co-official

official

2 of 2

adjective

as in authorized

ordered or allowed by those in authority

the official languages for those Olympic Games were French and English

Synonyms & Similar Words

• authorized
• legitimate
• promoted
• legal
• lawful
• sanctioned
• suggested
• authoritative
• supported
• approved
• endorsed
• licensed
• regulation
• permissible
• certified
• legit
• canonical
• semiofficial
• licit
• encouraged
• abetted
• ex officio

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unofficial
• unauthorized
• illegal
• unlawful
• nonofficial
• wrongful
• illicit
• unsanctioned
• illegitimate
• impermissible
• lawless
• unlicensed
• unapproved
• verboten

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of official

Noun

Once a case enters the criminal justice system, control shifts almost entirely to state or federal officials, often leaving victims feeling sidelined. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Neighbors who witnessed the struggle jumped into the lake to help and were able to bring Faith Jackson to shore, officials said. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Steveson left the Octagon before the official announcement, drawing criticism from several fighters and social media observers. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

With the official start of fall just days away, the floodgates are beginning to open up for colder weather footwear. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2026