Skip to the word

Added 6 October 2026

official

/əˈfɪʃəl/ adjective

In Latin: officialis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about official at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Of or about an office or public trust.
official duties
Derived from the proper office or officer, or the appropriate authority; made or communicated by authority
an official statement or report
Approved by authority; authorized.
The Official Strategy Guide

noun

An office holder, a person holding an official position in government, sports, or other organization.
Officials in the Firefly administration assure the Sylvanians they don't want war either.

Origin

From Middle English official, from Old French official, from Latin officiālis, from Latin officium (“duty, service”), by surface analysis, office + -ial.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word