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

While the other facilities give it flexibility, moving cargo overland from Fujairah or Khor Fakkan can be roughly four to five times more expensive than sailing through Hormuz to Jebel Ali, the official said. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

The unusual encounter unfolded last week in Kirkland's Moss Bay neighborhood, where police were ultimately able to corral the wild animal before wildlife officials later returned it to its natural habitat. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Adjective

And on Sunday, a red poster featuring the pop star’s face, official website address and an all-caps MILEY wrapped the print edition of the Los Angeles Times. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Frequently subjected to repression and censorship, some of them were excluded from the Association of Visual Artists and thus denied access to state funding, exhibition opportunities, commissions, and official recognition as professional artists. — Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026