officially

British  

/ əˈfɪʃəlɪ /

adverb

1. in a formal or authoritative manner

   the Queen officially opened the dome

2. in a way that is formally acknowledged but is not necessarily the case

   officially on the dole but actually holding a job

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Explanation

If something's done officially, it's done formally, often with the backing of some kind of authority, like a government. You might be elected president in November, but you won't officially take office until January of the following year. The adverb officially can describe something that's done publicly in an official and formal way. A company's CEO may officially resign after speculation about money laundering became public. An advertising campaign might officially launch with a Super Bowl ad. Officially can also describe something authorized by a government or other organization with authority. The government may officially announce that unemployment has decreased in the last six months.

Example Sentences

The company, officially known as Neutron Holdings, has talked about becoming a public company for at least the last five years.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

A Surrey Police officer said Hollywood's Land Rover Defender was officially clocked at 96mph, but he was believed to have reached speeds of more than 105mph when he got on to the M26.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

“Today, I officially announce my retirement from basketball,” the eight-time All Star wrote in a post shared across her social media accounts Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

What’s Next: The SEC said it would officially publish the proposal in the Federal Register in the next few days, after which the public can comment on the rule for 60 days.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

But if I’m accepted, then the metaphorical boat has officially set sail, no putting it off any longer.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• correctly
• formally
• properly
• regularly