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
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Additional sales of oil are expected in the coming days and weeks, the official added.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 15 Jan. 2026
Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Iranian state television aired images of clashes and fires, while the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several police officers were killed overnight, underscoring the increasingly violent nature of the confrontations.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for official
Noun
All that rainy weather over the holiday season appears to have turbo-charged a deadly outbreak of mushroom poisonings across the California coast, state health officials warned Wednesday.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Additional sales of oil are expected in the coming days and weeks, the official added.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The Tribune asked McGlade if Vienna Beef had an official position as to how its hot dogs should be served for the game.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Iranian state television aired images of clashes and fires, while the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several police officers were killed overnight, underscoring the increasingly violent nature of the confrontations.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for official
Recent Examples of Synonyms for official
Noun
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And on Tuesday, Joan Bracci, the county’s chief financial officer, stressed that DROP will create new costs for the county.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
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Sutherland, 59, was arrested shortly after midnight when officers responded to the scene near Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood, according to LAPD officer Kevin Terzes.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The documentary aims to counter decades of internet speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding O’Rourke’s death by presenting an authorized account from those who knew her.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2026
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After the state rejected Alston's company as an authorized vendor, investigators said Alston, Andrews, and Tate agreed to submit the work under Tate's company instead.—
CBS News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Official.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/official. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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