official 1 of 2

noun

ə-ˈfi-shəl How to pronounce official (audio)
Definition of officialnext
as in officer
a person who holds a public office some of our best public officials do their jobs quietly and are never in the news

Synonyms & Similar Words

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official

2 of 2

adjective

as in authorized
ordered or allowed by those in authority the official languages for those Olympic Games were French and English

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of official
Noun
Nearly 50,000 people remain unaccounted for in the wake of Venezuela's powerful earthquakes as the death toll continues to climb, officials said. — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 1 July 2026 The agreement also didn't lead to market opportunities for the United States in Canada and Mexico in dairy and other sectors as was expected, officials said. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Adjective
Amid news of his death, the official Instagram page for Flackstock, a festival created in honor of Caroline Flack, paid tribute to Paul Flack. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 30 June 2026 The country’s final authority on election matters, the National Jury of Elections (JNE), has yet to issue its official proclamation, according to Reuters. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for official
Recent Examples of Synonyms for official
  1. officer
  2. authorized
Noun
  • His behavior under stress is dangerous to his officers and crew, and his authority is questioned.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • Some relief workers are using donkeys and bulldozers to remove solid waste, according to Louise Wateridge, a communications officer for the UN’s children’s agency in the Middle East and North Africa.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of officer
Adjective
  • Hyundai is addressing the issue by allowing drivers to bring their Tucsons into authorized dealers for free instrument panel cluster software updates.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • To open the account, an authorized person (such as a parent or guardian) must make an election.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of authorized

Browse Nearby Words

offices
official
officials
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Cite this Entry

“Official.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/official. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on official

Nglish: Translation of official for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about official

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