of or relating to an office or position of duty, trust, or authority.
official powers.
authorized or issued authoritatively.
an official report.
holding office.
appointed or authorized to act in a designated capacity.
an official representative.
(of an activity or event) intended for the notice of the public and performed or held on behalf of officials or of an organization; formal.
the official opening of a store.
Pharmacology. noting drugs or drug preparations that are recognized by and that conform to the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary.
of or relating to an office, its administration, or its duration
sanctioned by, recognized by, or derived from authority
an official statement
appointed by authority, esp for some special duty
having a formal ceremonial character
an official dinner
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Late Latin officiālis “of duty,” equivalent to Latin offici(um) “service, duty” + -ālis adjective suffix; see origin at office, -al 1
Official is the real deal. If you want the latest news from Graceland, check the official Elvis Presley website. But you’ll have to look elsewhere to find the unofficial, unapproved, and highly unlikely scoop on Elvis sightings. If something is official, it's authorized and approved by somebody. If Gatorade is the official drink of the Olympics, somebody with authority has signed some papers and a deal has been made. When you're playing soccer or other sports, the official is the person who makes the calls; he referees (or officiates) the game.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lacy delivered the accidental reveal while speaking with Twitch star Valkyrae, who hosted the film’s official red carpet stream.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru's ninth president in a decade at an official ceremony in Lima on Tuesday, AFP journalists observed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Another Midwestern casserole praised by more than one reader was the Hot Dish, Minnesota’s official comfort food with no official recipe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
"Weather conditions were unfavourable," a local official warned, as this summer's fourth heatwave was expected to start by Wednesday, bringing temperatures in the area to 40C.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
I don’t think Ms. Cherry would understand about me and Chin being building friends but not official friends.
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
Becca Monahan and Chris Austin, interim co-managing directors of the Official Charts, congratulated Oasis on the album's achievements in a joint statement.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Official data from the first quarter of 2026 shows that deforestation is at its lowest-ever rate this decade, with Lula pledging to eradicate the practice by 2030.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Official figures show that most people using betting platforms come from poor households.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Emil Franchi, who has covered various daytime shows and The Official Chart, says he "can't wait to get to work" on his own show as he takes over Weekend Breakfast.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Offstage, she watched them perform their elaborate Official Greeting.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
FBI officials confirmed the addresses but did not name the individuals subject to the searches, saying the affidavits for the warrants are under seal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
A major earthquake that severely damaged a shopping mall and a factory in Japan killed at least 13 people, officials said Wednesday, as rescuers desperately tried to reach survivors feared trapped in the wreckage.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Across Kumamoto -- hit by two quakes in as many days in 2016 that killed 273 people -- 36,880 households and facilities had no power on Wednesday morning, officials said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
He arrived in Washington with significantly less clout and influence than he had on past visits, officials said, and came highly attuned to what the president would want to discuss—or what would set him off.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
In the embassy the next morning, several American officials stepped into the “bubble”—a large soundproof box suspended by wires from the ceiling.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
