officiate

[ uh-fish-ee-eyt ]

/ əˈfɪʃ iˌeɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR officiate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), of·fi·ci·at·ed, of·fi·ci·at·ing.

to perform the office of a member of the clergy, as at a divine service.

to perform the duties or function of some office or position.

to serve as referee, umpire, or other official in a sports contest or game.

verb (used with object), of·fi·ci·at·ed, of·fi·ci·at·ing.

to serve as the priest or minister of (a divine service, religious ceremony, etc.).

to perform, carry out, or fulfill (an official duty or function).

to act as a referee, umpire, timekeeper, or other official for (a sports contest or game).

Nearby words

officialism, officialize, officially, officiant, officiary, officiate, officinal, officious, officious will, officiously, offing

Origin of officiate

1625–35; < Medieval Latin officiātus (past participle of officiāre to serve), equivalent to Latin offici(um) office + -ātus -ate¹

Related forms

of·fi·ci·a·tion, nounof·fi·ci·a·tor, nounun·of·fi·ci·at·ed, adjectiveun·of·fi·ci·at·ing, adjective

Can be confused

officiate officious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for officiate

The first thing Joplin needs to find out before he will agree to officiate a wedding is why his potential client is in prison.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars|Caitlin Dickson|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She seems astonished by the fact that no ministers wanted to officiate, writing, “So much for Christianity as we know it today.”
Oswald’s Mother Was a Thoroughly Disagreeable Piece of Work|Steve North|November 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Booker had previously refused to officiate at any weddings as a statement of principle until same-sex marriage was legalized.
Gay Marriage Comes to Chris Christie’s New Jersey on Monday|Ben Jacobs|October 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Yahadut Hatorah claims it would also allow untrustworthy rabbis to officiate at the Jewish weddings.
Conflict of Interest in Bnei Brak|Yoel Finkelman|March 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST

When Forster married, in 1856, he was eager that Elwin should officiate, and proposed going down to Norfolk.
John Forster|Percy Hethrington Fitzgerald
The captain had come to him, requesting him to officiate, as there was no chaplain on board.
A Group of Noble Dames|Thomas Hardy
If a woman of condition should choose an inferior person to officiate as a husband, the children he has by her are killed.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 16|Robert Kerr
On my seventeenth birthday I put up my hair, and was confirmed by a bishop whom my godmother persuaded to officiate in the house.
Memoirs of a Midget|Walter de la Mare
Then the men came in, and she was obliged to come forward and officiate at the tea-table.
Orley Farm|Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for officiate

officiate

/ (əˈfɪʃɪˌeɪt) /

verb (intr)

to hold the position, responsibility, or function of an official

to conduct a religious or other ceremony

Derived Forms

officiation, nounofficiator, noun

Word Origin for officiate

C17: from Medieval Latin officiāre, from Latin officium; see office

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012