official
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official
- /əˈfɪʃəl/ Australia, Canada, US, UK
- [əˈfɪʃəl] ~ [əˈfɪʃɫ̩] Australia, Canada, US, UK
Rhymes with -ɪʃəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English official, from Old French official, from Latin officiālis, from Latin officium (“duty, service”), by surface analysis, office + -ial.
adjective more official · most official
- Of or about an office or public trust. official duties
- Derived from the proper office or officer, or the appropriate authority; made or communicated by authority an official statement or report
- Approved by authority; authorized. The Official Strategy Guide
- Dubious but recognized by authorities as the truth or canon. Despite these testimonies, "accidental asphyxiation" remains his official cause of death.
- Sanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; officinal. an official drug or preparation
- Discharging an office or function. the stomach and other parts official unto nutrition
- Relating to an office, especially a subordinate executive officer or attendant.
- Relating to an ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc., with charge of the spiritual jurisdiction.
- True, real, beyond doubt. Well, it's official: you lost your mind!
- Listed in a national pharmacopeia.
Similar: approved, recognized, sanctioned, decreed
noun officials
- An office holder, a person holding an official position in government, sports, or other organization. Officials in the Firefly administration assure the Sylvanians they don't want war either.
