officeholder

[aw-fis-hohl-der, of-is-]

noun

1. a person filling a governmental position; public official.

Other Word Forms

• nonofficeholder noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of officeholder¹

First recorded in 1850–55; office + holder

Example Sentences

Kirk’s death reflects a sizable increase in threats against officeholders and politicians at the local and federal level.

From Salon

The state’s congressional districts could be reconfigured to increase the share of Democratic voters in districts currently represented by Republicans, or in a way that forces Republican officeholders to face off against one another.

From Los Angeles Times

Civil service roles in the U.S. were originally designed to serve the Constitution and the public, not individual officeholders.

From Salon

Or what if an officeholder loses an election and refuses to respect the people's will?

From Salon

The Democratic Party, they write, “fosters a relatively pragmatic, results-oriented style of politics in which officeholders are rewarded for delivering concrete benefits to targeted groups in order to address specific social problems.”

From Salon

Related Words

• administrator 
• agent 
• bureaucrat 
• civil servant 
• commissioner 
• director 
• executive 
• leader 
• manager 
• minister 
• officer 
• representative 
• secretary