ex officio

American

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

adverb

by virtue of office or official position.

ex officio British

/ ˈɛks əˈfɪʃɪəʊ, əˈfɪsɪəʊ /

adverb

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.

Newsom has no direct authority over California’s public universities, but does exert influence as an ex officio member of the UC regents and the Cal State Board of Trustees.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2024

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

In addition, the center will welcome a new board of directors, composed of 13 community directors and ex officio positions, which will be held by leaders at Fred Hutch Cancer Center and UW Medicine.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 1, 2022

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023