Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
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

Treasury; the Treasury secretary and comptroller of the currency were ex officio members of its board, and the Treasury secretary presided over its meetings.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 27, 2025

Bar in 1873, she sent a letter to President Ulysses S. Grant, who was president ex officio of the National University Law School, to demand her sheepskin.

From Washington Times Nov. 22, 2023

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

But no, he was ex officio an illiterate.

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

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training