of·fi·cial
ə-ˈfi-shəl 
ō-
1
: one who holds or is invested (see invest entry 2 sense 1) with an office : officer
government officials
A company official responded to our request.
2
: one who administers the rules of a game or sport especially as a referee or umpire
a football official
1
: of or relating to an office, position, or trust
official duties
official documents
2
: holding an office : having authority
the president's official representative
3
a
: authoritative, authorized
official statement
an official biography
b
: prescribed or recognized as authorized
an official language
c
: described by the U.S. Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary
The official drug is sold under several trade names.
4
: befitting or characteristic of a person in office
extended an official greeting
official condolences
Synonyms
Examples of official in a Sentence
Noun
She interviewed a senior official from the previous administration.
A company official responded to our request.
Adjective
She was accused of destroying official documents.
Her illness did not prevent her from performing her official duties.
The Vice President is on an official trip.
We extended an official greeting to the ambassador.
Recent Examples on the Web
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024
City officials said construction is set to start at the end of 2024.
—Fernanda Figueroa, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Freeman claimed victory for a second time late Monday in an official statement from his campaign, as county elections officials started to wrap up counting ballots.
—Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for official 
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Noun
In Oklahoma, the state's top education official has tried to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for children in fifth through 12th grades.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024
City officials said construction is set to start at the end of 2024.
—Fernanda Figueroa, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Texas has designated an official state stone (petrified palmwood), shell (lightning whelk) and grass (sideoats grama).
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Freeman claimed victory for a second time late Monday in an official statement from his campaign, as county elections officials started to wrap up counting ballots.
—Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for official
Articles Related to official
Dictionary Entries Near official
Cite this Entry
“Official.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/official. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
official
1 of 2 noun
of·fi·cial
ə-ˈfish-əl
1
: a person who holds an office
2
: a person who enforces the rules in a game or sport
official
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to an office
official duties
2
: having authority to perform a duty
the official government of the 13 colonies
3
: prescribed or permitted by authority
the official language
an official American League baseball
4
: proper for a person in office
an official greeting
Medical Definition
official
adjective
of·fi·cial
ə-ˈfish-əl
: prescribed or recognized as authorized
specifically
: described by the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary compare nonofficial, unofficial
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