functionary

[fuhngk-shuh-ner-ee]

noun

plural

functionaries 

1. a person who functions in a specified capacity, especially in government service; an official.

   civil servants, bureaucrats, and other functionaries.

functionary

/ ˈfʌŋkʃənərɪ /

noun

1. a person acting in an official capacity, as for a government; an official

adjective

1. a less common word for functional official

Word History and Origins

Origin of functionary¹

1785–95; function + -ary, modeled on French fonctionnaire

Example Sentences

He, not his faithful functionaries, needs to take the blame.

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Because he was an obscure functionary, the lawmaker assumed that he would be an Aaron, Moses’ brother and supporter.

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That so many corrupt functionaries and cartel capos ultimately face responsibility in the United States — and not in Mexico — underscores a fundamental weakness of the Mexican justice system, observers say.

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Adolf Ziegler, the Nazi functionary charged with overseeing the exhibition, perceived no ambiguity.

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In his experience fighting the sports powers over abuse and coverups, Little came to appreciate that the most effective tactics called for reporting illegal acts to law enforcement, rather than sports organization functionaries.

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Related Words

• assistant 
• broker 
• commissioner 
• deputy 
• handler 
• lawyer 
• minister 
• officer 
• operative 
• operator 
• promoter 
• representative 
• worker