officer

[aw-fuh-ser, of-uh-]

noun

1. a person who holds a position of rank or authority in the army, navy, air force, or any similar organization, especially one who holds a commission.

2. a member of a police department or a constable.

3. a person licensed to take full or partial responsibility for the operation of a merchant ship or other large civilian ship; a master or mate.

4. a person appointed or elected to some position of responsibility or authority in the government, a corporation, a society, etc.

5. (in some honorary orders) a member of any rank except the lowest.

6. Obsolete.,  an agent.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with officers.

2. to command or direct as an officer does.

3. to direct, conduct, or manage.

officer

/ ˈɒfɪsə /

noun

1. a person in the armed services who holds a position of responsibility, authority, and duty, esp one who holds a commission

2. See police officer

3. (on a non-naval ship) any person including the captain and mate, who holds a position of authority and responsibility

   radio officer

   engineer officer

4. a person appointed or elected to a position of responsibility or authority in a government, society, etc

5. a government official

   a customs officer

6. (in the Order of the British Empire) a member of the grade below commander

verb

1. to furnish with officers

2. to act as an officer over (some section, group, organization, etc)

Other Word Forms

• officerial adjective
• officerless adjective
• officership noun
• officerhood noun
• subofficer noun
• underofficer noun
• unofficered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of officer¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Anglo-French; Middle French officier < Medieval Latin officiārius, equivalent to Latin offici ( um ) office + -ārius -ary; -er ², -ier ²

Example Sentences

“We are convinced that RealPage is part of the solution to addressing the cost of housing, helping operators make informed, independent decisions in a complex housing market,” said Dirk Wakeham, RealPage’s chief executive officer.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Eric Siddall, who is trying the case, said Sanders was one of several officers who had just received a call to aid in the chase when the deadly crash happened.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Wellbeing officer Rachel Warden said maintaining links with parents all year round "not just when there are issues" is important.

Read more on BBC

Berkley was putting an “absolute” exclusion of coverage for “any actual or alleged use, deployment, or development of Artificial Intelligence” in some liability policies for corporate directors and officers.

Read more on Barron's

"When officers arrived, they located both subjects sleeping on the sidewalk," Posen police said in a statement.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• agent 
• chief 
• civil servant 
• deputy 
• director 
• executive 
• leader 
• manager 
• official 
• representative