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Official
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority (either their own or that of their superior and/or employer, public or legally private).
A government official or functionary is an official who is involved in public administration or government, through either election, appointment, selection, or employment. A bureaucrat or civil servant is a member of the bureaucracy. An elected official is a person who is an official by virtue of an election. Officials may also be appointed ex officio (by virtue of another office, often in a specified capacity, such as presiding, advisory, secretary). Some official positions may be inherited. A person who currently holds an office is referred to as an incumbent.
The word official as a noun has been recorded since the Middle English period, first seen in 1314. It comes from the Old French official (12th century), from the Latin officialis (“attendant to a magistrate, public official”), the noun use of the original adjective officialis (“of or belonging to duty, service, or office”) from officium (“office”). The meaning “person in charge of some public work or duty” was first recorded in 1555. The adjective is first attested in English in 1533 via the Old French oficial.
The informal term officialese, the jargon of “officialdom”, was first recorded in 1884.
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Officially
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority (either their own or that of their superior and/or employer, public or legally private).
A government official or functionary is an official who is involved in public administration or government, through either election, appointment, selection, or employment. A bureaucrat or civil servant is a member of the bureaucracy. An elected official is a person who is an official by virtue of an election. Officials may also be appointed ex officio (by virtue of another office, often in a specified capacity, such as presiding, advisory, secretary). Some official positions may be inherited. A person who currently holds an office is referred to as an incumbent.
The word official as a noun has been recorded since the Middle English period, first seen in 1314. It comes from the Old French official (12th century), from the Latin officialis (“attendant to a magistrate, public official”), the noun use of the original adjective officialis (“of or belonging to duty, service, or office”) from officium (“office”). The meaning “person in charge of some public work or duty” was first recorded in 1555. The adjective is first attested in English in 1533 via the Old French oficial.
The informal term officialese, the jargon of “officialdom”, was first recorded in 1884.
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Official (adjective)
Of or pertaining to an office or public trust.
“official duties”
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Official (adjective)
Derived from the proper office or officer, or from the proper authority; made or communicated by virtue of authority
“an official statement or report”
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Official (adjective)
Approved by authority; authorized.
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Official (adjective)
sanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; officinal
“an official drug or preparation”
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Official (adjective)
Discharging an office or function.
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Official (adjective)
Relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant.
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Official (adjective)
Relating to an ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc., with charge of the spiritual jurisdiction.
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Official (adjective)
True, real, beyond doubt.
“Well, it’s official: you lost your mind!”
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Official (noun)
An office holder invested with powers and authorities.
“David Barnes was the official charged with the running of the sports club.”
“ux|en|Last year, Yulong Snow Mountain park officials reported that 2.6 million visitors came to the mountain. File:Last year, Yulong Snow Mountain park officials reported that 2.6 million visitors came to the mountain.ogg”
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Official (noun)
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.”
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Officially (adverb)
In an official manner
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Official (adjective)
relating to an authority or public body and its activities and responsibilities
“the prime minister’s official engagements”
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Official (adjective)
having the approval or authorization of an authority or public body
“members would know when industrial action is official”
“official statistics”
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Official (adjective)
employed by an authority or public body in a position of authority
“an official spokesman”
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Official (noun)
a person holding public office or having official duties, especially as a representative of an organization or government department
“a union official”
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Official (noun)
the presiding officer or judge of an archbishop’s, bishop’s, or archdeacon’s court.