officially
Britishadverb
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in a formal or authoritative manner
the Queen officially opened the dome
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in a way that is formally acknowledged but is not necessarily the case
officially on the dole but actually holding a job
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.
Vocabulary lists containing officially
Lesson 5
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Excerpt from "Kira-Kira"
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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.
Officially the company says it closed due to the cost of the dispute and security concerns, but privately, insiders also acknowledge that the weakness of the global market also played a role.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
Officially a midsize SUV, the Optiq looks lean and well-planted, thanks to its low-roof design—in the case of our test car, accented by the optional black-over-tangerine livery and 21-inch black-painted alloy wheels.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
Officially titled "The Beatles at 3 Savile Row", the experience is due to launch in 2027.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
Appeared in the May 9, 2026, print edition as 'The World Has Officially Reached Peak Bagel'.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
Officially, he was still my personal coach at the foundation, but his work ethic and interest in pushing our training to the next level had slowly dissipated.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
