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Synonyms

ex officio

American  
[eks uh-fish-ee-oh] / ˈɛks əˈfɪʃ iˌoʊ /

adverb

  1. by virtue of office or official position.


ex officio British  
/ ˈɛks əˈfɪʃɪəʊ, -əˈfɪsɪəʊ /

adverb

  1. ex off. by right of position or office

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ex officio

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1525–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In recent administrations, governing majorities have come to rely on the vice president—who is ex officio Senate president—to act as primary liaison between the White House and Congress.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Grenell countered that ex officio members don’t get a vote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026

The Reserve Bank Board comprises nine members, with three ex officio members – the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the Secretary to the Treasury – and six non-executive members, who are appointed by the Treasurer.

From Reuters ● Feb. 23, 2023

The commissioners include the deputy mayor for planning and economic development, now John Falcicchio, who serves as an ex officio member, giving Bowser’s appointees majority control.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 19, 2021

But no, he was ex officio an illiterate.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

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