official
Americannoun
adjective
-
of or relating to an office or position of duty, trust, or authority.
official powers.
-
authorized or issued authoritatively.
an official report.
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holding office.
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appointed or authorized to act in a designated capacity.
an official representative.
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(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.
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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.
adjective
-
of or relating to an office, its administration, or its duration
-
sanctioned by, recognized by, or derived from authority
an official statement
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appointed by authority, esp for some special duty
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having a formal ceremonial character
an official dinner
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- nonofficial adjective
- nonofficially adverb
- officially adverb
- preofficial adjective
- preofficially adverb
- pseudoofficial adjective
- pseudoofficially adverb
- quasi-official adjective
- quasi-officially adverb
- subofficial noun
- subofficially adverb
- underofficial adjective
- unofficial adjective
- unofficially adverb
Etymology
Origin of official
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Late Latin officiālis “of duty,” equivalent to Latin offici(um) “service, duty” + -ālis adjective suffix; office, -al 1
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.
Transportation officials said such signs are posted at least 48 hours in advance.
From Los Angeles Times
Some 2,000 people were being treated there, according to hospital officials, who believe there could be hundreds of casualties.
From BBC
About 92,000 jobs were lost in February, based on the latest official data, and inflation gauges are accelerating.
From Barron's
The harder question is what officials signal beyond the next few months.
Oil executives told officials in White House meetings that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz might push up oil prices further.
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.
