official
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of·fi·cial (ə fis̸h′əl, ō-)
adjective
- of or holding an office, or position of authority
- by, from, or with the proper authority; authorized or authoritative an official request
- in a formal or ceremonious manner, often involving persons of authority an official welcome to the city
- formally set or prescribed the official date of publication
- Med., Pharmacy contained in the current pharmacopeia; authorized for use in medicine
Etymology: OFr < LL officialis
noun
- a person holding office, esp. public office
- Sports one who supervises an athletic contest, as a referee, umpire, etc.
Related Forms:
- officially of·fi′·cially adverb
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
official
modif.
Having to do with one's office
formal, fitting, suitable, befitting, precise, established, ceremonious, according to precedent, according to protocol, proper, correct, accepted, recognized, customary; see also conventional 1, 2, 3, fit 1, 2.Antonyms
informal*, unceremonious*, ill-fitting. Authorized
Reliable
authoritative, authentic, trustworthy, true, unquestionable, indubitable, veritable, real, sure, absolute, canonical, positive, clear, unequivocal, unmistakable, decisive, conclusive, unimpeachable, valid, authenticated, credible, bona fide, accurate, faithful, standard, irrefutable, incontestable, verified, proven, indisputable, not to be questioned, definite, assured, decided, to be depended on, to be trusted, worthy of confidence, undeniable, guaranteed, insured; see also certain 3, genuine 1, reliable 2.Antonyms
unreliable*, unauthentic, unverified.
official
n.
Administrator
comptroller, director, executive; see administrator, leader 2.A sports official
referee, umpire, judge, linesman, adjudicator, ref*, ump*, chain gang*; see also judge 2.
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Converse of object
- elect: They plant, maintain, and orchestrate coalitions of voters to exert pressure on elected officials.
Adjective modifier
- senior: Imagine for a moment that you are a senior official in Iran's foreign ministry.
Modifies a noun
- receiver: The court will fix the amount on the official receiver 's advice.
Noun used with modifier
- immigration: In those days the British Immigration officials used to travel on the ferries from Calais to Dover.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
Nothingmakes a more fanatical official than a Latin. Organization is alien to their natures, but once they get the taste for it they take to it like drink.
The official world, the corridors of power, the dilemmas of conscience and egotismöshe disliked them all.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Cite this page:
MLA Style
"official." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/official>
APA Style
official. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/official

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