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Official

/əˈfɪʃəl/

An office holder invested with powers and authorities.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Official"

noun

1
An office holder invested with powers and authorities.
"David Barnes was the official charged with the running of the sports club."
2
A person responsible for applying the rules of a game or sport in a competition.
"In most soccer games there are three officials: the referee and two linesmen."

adjective

1
Of or pertaining to an office or public trust.
"official duties"
2
Derived from the proper office or officer, or from the proper authority; made or communicated by virtue of authority
"an official statement or report"
3
Approved by authority; authorized.
"The Official Strategy Guide"
4
(pharmaceutical) Sanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; officinal.
"an official drug or preparation"

🔄 Synonyms of "Official"

11 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
established	Having been in existence for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted.
regularnoun	(chiefly US) Having the expected characteristics or appearances; normal, ordinary, standard.
authoritative	Highly accurate or definitive; treated or worthy of treatment as a scholarly authority.
formalnoun	Official.
functionarynoun	A person employed as an official in a bureaucracy (usually corporate or governmental) who holds limited authority and primarily serves to carry out a simple function for which discretion is minimal or not required.
confirmed	Verified or ratified.
authorized	Explicitly allowed.
prescribed	Of a procedure, specified to a great degree of detail; established as following a strict procedure or set of rules.
ex officio	By virtue of the office that originated it, or of the title held.
semiofficial	Alternative spelling of semi-official. [Having some degree of official authority.]
formalized	given formal standing or endorsement; made official or legitimate by the observance of proper procedures

↔️ Antonyms of "Official"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
unofficial	Not officially established.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Official"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
ex officio	By virtue of the office that originated it, or of the title held.
functionarynoun	A person employed as an official in a bureaucracy (usually corporate or governmental) who holds limited authority and primarily serves to carry out a simple function for which discretion is minimal or not required.
authoritative	Highly accurate or definitive; treated or worthy of treatment as a scholarly authority.
formalnoun	Official.
authorizedverb	Explicitly allowed.
confirmed	Verified or ratified.
regularnoun	(chiefly US) Having the expected characteristics or appearances; normal, ordinary, standard.
established	Having been in existence for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted.
semiofficial	Alternative spelling of semi-official. [Having some degree of official authority.]
formalized	given formal standing or endorsement; made official or legitimate by the observance of proper procedures
prescribed	Of a procedure, specified to a great degree of detail; established as following a strict procedure or set of rules.
administrative	Of or relating to administering or administration.
authoritiesnoun	The bodies that enforce law and order or provide a public service.
officialdomnoun	The people elected to government or employed in the civil service.
civilnoun	(comparable) Behaving in a reasonable or polite manner; avoiding displays of hostility.
incumbentnoun	The current holder of an office or title; (specifically, Christianity) the holder of an ecclesiastical benefice.
agentnoun	One who exerts power, or has the power to act.
bureaucratnoun	An official who is part of a bureaucracy.
registrarnoun	An official keeper or recorder of records.
diplomatnoun	A person, such as an ambassador, who is accredited to represent a government officially in its relations with other governments or international organisations