office
Americannoun
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a room, set of rooms, or building where the business of a commercial or industrial organization or of a professional person is conducted.
the main office of an insurance company; a doctor's office.
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a room assigned to a specific person or a group of persons in a commercial or industrial organization.
Her office is next to mine.
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a business or professional organization.
He went to work in an architect's office.
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the staff or designated part of a staff at a commercial or industrial organization.
The whole office was at his wedding.
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a position of duty, trust, or authority, especially in the government, a corporation, a society, or the like.
She was elected twice to the office of president.
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employment or position as an official.
to seek office.
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the duty, function, or part of a particular person or agency.
to act in the office of adviser.
- Synonyms:
- trust, charge, responsibility
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(initial capital letter) an operating agency or division of certain departments of the U.S. Government.
Office of Community Services.
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(initial capital letter) a major administrative unit or department of the national government.
the Foreign Office.
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Slang. hint, signal, or warning; high sign.
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Often offices. something, whether good or bad, done or said for or to another.
He obtained a position through the offices of a friend.
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Ecclesiastical.
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the prescribed order or form for a service of the church or for devotional use.
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the services so prescribed.
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Also called divine office. the prayers, readings from Scripture, and psalms that must be recited every day by all who are in major orders.
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a ceremony or rite, especially for the dead.
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a service or task to be performed; assignment; chore.
little domestic offices.
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Chiefly British. offices,
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the parts of a house, as the kitchen, pantry, or laundry, devoted mainly to household work.
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the stables, barns, cowhouses, etc., of a farm.
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Older Slang. privy.
noun
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a room or set of rooms in which business, professional duties, clerical work, etc, are carried out
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( as modifier )
office furniture
an office boy
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(often plural) the building or buildings in which the work of an organization, such as a business or government department, is carried out
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a commercial or professional business
the architect's office approved the plans
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the group of persons working in an office
it was a happy office until she came
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(capital when part of a name) (in Britain) a department of the national government
the Home Office
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(capital when part of a name)
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a governmental agency, esp of the Federal government
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a subdivision of such an agency or of a department
Office of Science and Technology
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a position of trust, responsibility, or duty, esp in a government or organization
the office of president
to seek office
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( in combination )
an office-holder
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duty or function
the office of an administrator
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(often plural) a minor task or service
domestic offices
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(often plural) an action performed for another, usually a beneficial action
through his good offices
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a place where tickets, information, etc, can be obtained
a ticket office
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Christianity
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(often plural) a ceremony or service, prescribed by ecclesiastical authorities, esp one for the dead
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the order or form of these
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RC Church the official daily service
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short for divine office
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(plural) the parts of a house or estate where work is done, goods are stored, etc
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euphemistic (usually plural) a lavatory (esp in the phrase usual offices )
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(of a government) in power
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(of a government) out of power
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slang a hint or signal
Usage
What is an office? An office is a room, rooms, or a building where business is conducted, as in I gave my sister a ride to the doctor’s office.An office is also a designated room where a person does their work, as in Dr. Brown’s office is the second one on the left down the hall. Office can more generally refer to an entire business or organization, as in I got a new job at an accountant’s office. Office can also refer to a business’s entire staff or a specific part of it, as in The birthday cake was shared with the entire office. Finally, office is also a position of authority or the duties of such a position, such as The office of the President of the United States. Example: The lawyer spent most of her time at her office in the law firm rather than actually going to court.
Related Words
See appointment.
Other Word Forms
- officeless adjective
- outoffice noun
- suboffice noun
Etymology
Origin of office
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin officium “service, duty, ceremony,” presumably contraction of opificium, from opi- (combining form akin to opus opus ) + -fic- (combining form of facere “to do, make”) + -ium -ium
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.
Instead of being concerned with product placement, they had an innate understanding of what their office symbolizes and demands.
From Salon
Later Monday, Macron was set to board the Charles de Gaulle carrier, which according to his office is currently stationed off the coast of Crete.
From Barron's
The parties' assets have been confiscated and all offices sealed.
From BBC
In February, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office before being released under investigation.
From BBC
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Friday announced plans for a four-day working week for most public offices, with the exemption of critical services like fire stations and hospitals.
From BBC
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.
