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
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as in authorized
ordered or allowed by those in authority
the official languages for those Olympic Games were French and English
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of official
Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 4 June 2026
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Melina Khan, USA Today, 2 June 2026
An official announcement is expected Wednesday.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for official
Noun
Kuwaiti officials inspect damage in a terminal at Kuwait International Airport following a drone and missile attack Wednesday.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 4 June 2026
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Adjective
In January 2025, the president formed Task Force 250, a group consisting of members of his Cabinet to plan events outside of those run by the official America250 commission.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 2 June 2026
An official announcement is expected Wednesday.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for official
Recent Examples of Synonyms for official
Noun
-
Clovis Police Department vehicles were parked in the vicinity, and multiple officers came to oversee the confrontation when the shouting began.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
-
In 2024 and 2025, four hearing officers in the appeals unit filed complaints against the department, leading to three internal investigations by human resources, according to a separate, outside probe conducted by Flynn Investigations Group, a firm specializing in workplace reviews.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
They are not designed as retail sales floors, but as brand immersion experiences with expert consultants serving as guides to inspire and educate potential customers before being referred to an authorized dealer.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Sam Raskin, a spokesperson for the mayor, said that NYPD headcount is expected to fluctuate throughout the year and as a result the force will sometimes fall above or below authorized headcount.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Official.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/official. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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