office

American  

[aw-fis, of-is] / ˈɔ fɪs, ˈɒf ɪs /

noun

1. 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.

2. a room assigned to a specific person or a group of persons in a commercial or industrial organization.

   Her office is next to mine.

3. a business or professional organization.

   He went to work in an architect's office.

4. the staff or designated part of a staff at a commercial or industrial organization.

   The whole office was at his wedding.

5. 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.

   Synonyms:

   situation, berth, station, post

6. employment or position as an official.

   to seek office.

7. the duty, function, or part of a particular person or agency.

   to act in the office of adviser.

   Synonyms:

   trust, charge, responsibility

8. (initial capital letter) an operating agency or division of certain departments of the U.S. Government.

   Office of Community Services.

9. (initial capital letter) a major administrative unit or department of the national government.

   the Foreign Office.

10. Slang. hint, signal, or warning; high sign.

11. Often offices. something, whether good or bad, done or said for or to another.

    He obtained a position through the offices of a friend.

12. Ecclesiastical.

    1. the prescribed order or form for a service of the church or for devotional use.

    2. the services so prescribed.

    3. Also called divine office.  the prayers, readings from Scripture, and psalms that must be recited every day by all who are in major orders.

    4. a ceremony or rite, especially for the dead.

13. a service or task to be performed; assignment; chore.

    little domestic offices.

    Synonyms:

    duty, work

14. Chiefly British. offices,

    1. the parts of a house, as the kitchen, pantry, or laundry, devoted mainly to household work.

    2. the stables, barns, cowhouses, etc., of a farm.

15. Older Slang. privy.

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office British  

/ ˈɒfɪs /

noun

1. 1. a room or set of rooms in which business, professional duties, clerical work, etc, are carried out

   2. ( as modifier )

      office furniture

      an office boy

2. (often plural) the building or buildings in which the work of an organization, such as a business or government department, is carried out

3. a commercial or professional business

   the architect's office approved the plans

4. the group of persons working in an office

   it was a happy office until she came

5. (capital when part of a name) (in Britain) a department of the national government

   the Home Office

6. (capital when part of a name)

   1. a governmental agency, esp of the Federal government

   2. a subdivision of such an agency or of a department

      Office of Science and Technology

7. 1. a position of trust, responsibility, or duty, esp in a government or organization

      the office of president

      to seek office

   2. ( in combination )

      an office-holder

8. duty or function

   the office of an administrator

9. (often plural) a minor task or service

   domestic offices

10. (often plural) an action performed for another, usually a beneficial action

    through his good offices

11. a place where tickets, information, etc, can be obtained

    a ticket office

12. Christianity

    1. (often plural) a ceremony or service, prescribed by ecclesiastical authorities, esp one for the dead

    2. the order or form of these

    3. RC Church the official daily service

    4. short for divine office

13. (plural) the parts of a house or estate where work is done, goods are stored, etc

14. euphemistic (usually plural) a lavatory (esp in the phrase usual offices )

15. (of a government) in power

16. (of a government) out of power

17. slang a hint or signal

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office Idioms  

1. see box office; front office; land-office business; take office.

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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

Explanation

If you have an office job, it means that you go to work in an office, or a professional business place, every day. Your office is the place you work, meeting with colleagues, sitting at a desk, and wearing sneakers on Casual Friday. The President of the United States has an office too, but it's a different kind: his or her office is a position of power. All government officials can be described as holding or taking office, which is when they assume the control and responsibilities that come with their important jobs.

Example Sentences

Does he plan to turn his office into a textile inspector for all 50 states?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The firm opened dozens of shops in the US and around the world including the UK, New Zealand, China and Singapore, targeting casual joggers, office workers and yoga lovers.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office made an unannounced visit to the Fed’s headquarters construction site, saying they wanted a tour and to check on progress.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

On Tuesday, prosecutors from Pirro’s office showed up unannounced at the construction site for the Fed renovation and were turned away, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

The lights are on when I enter the office at the marina, so I know Nate’s around.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• agency
• building
• bureau
• center
• department
• facility
• factory
• room
• shop
• store
• suite