Word family noun office officer official officialdom officialese officiousness adjective official ≠ unofficial officious verb officiate adverb officially ≠ unofficially officiously
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishofficialof‧fi‧cial1 /əˈfɪʃəl/ ●●● S3 W1 noun [countable] PGOBBsomeone who is in a position of authority in an organization a government official senior administration officialsExamples from the Corpus
official• Committee members have expressed concerns about possible contacts between donors and officials of the National Security Council.• City officials were hoping the name change would help curb the prostitution which festered in the area during the 1970s.• Health officials in Houston said Thursday that California strawberries are almost certainly the source of the illnesses.• In any case, the police did not offer a high enough salary for any but the most inexperienced official.• But instead of levying fines, prosecuting plant officials or revoking their licenses, the agency only wrote threatening letters to trustees.• By last week, government and state officials had doubled their estimates of contaminated sites to about 100.• One of the strengths of organisations is the expertise that officials have accumulated over time.• a union officialofficialofficial2 ●●● S3 W2 adjective 1 PGOapproved of or done by someone in authority, especially the government an official investigation into the causes of the explosion the official policy on education official statistics about illegal drug use You will have to get official permission first. Finally the letter of appointment came, making it all official.2 BBrelating to or done as part of an important job or positionan official visit/engagement etc The president was leaving for a four-day official tour of Mexico. the Queen’s performance of official duties They dined in an official capacity with other European leaders. the Lord Mayor’s official residence3 PUBLIC/NOT PRIVATEan official explanation, account etc is one that is given formally and publicly, but may not be true Many doubted the official version of events. The official line (=what is said publicly by people in authority) was that the troops were there to protect the King.4 PGOchosen to represent someone or an organization, or do something for them the company’s official logo the official representative from the American administration5 PUBLIC/NOT PRIVATEan official event is a formal public event The official opening of the institute was in May.COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: relating to or done as part of an important job or positionnounsan official visit/engagement etc (=one that relates to an important job or position)The prime minister was on an official visit to China.somebody's official duties (=the things someone does as part of their job or position)the royal family's official duties.an official residence (=a house someone is able to use as part of their important job)the ambassador's official residence in Londonsomebody's official capacity (=someone's official position or duty)He spent Wednesday in Washington acting in his official capacity as Senate majority leader. Examples from the Corpus
official• The news is not yet official.• Unlike Soviet official art, the shadowy presence of western popular art has not been systematically documented.• Nor have official bodies been able to ward off the most sinister threat.• Senator Blake is here on official business.• Their applications came complete with curricula vitae and official Discharge Certificates and Conduct Assessments.• The official explanation for the crash was pilot error.• The official explanation for the man's death was suicide.• The truth is that not a single one of the official groups organising protests is planning violent action.• But, as Air Force One took off for Washington, the response of his official hosts was somewhat colder.• Mr Baker adopted the Henry V model for his official morale-boosting speech from the conference platform.• the official opening of the new clinic• You have to get official permission for building in a conservation area.• What's the government's official policy on drugs education in schools?• The official procedure for obtaining a visa can turn into a bureaucratic nightmare.• Most of the official records of the case were destroyed in a fire in 1965.• Islam is the official religion of Saudi Arabia.• In addition to a salary, most governors received perquisites such as transportation and an official residence.• Visa is an official sponsor of the Winter Olympics.• The newspaper claims she spent over £50,000 on an official trip to Australia.• The First Lady will make an official visit to Haiti.• The Umpires' Association had planned to table a motion giving an official vote of support for Lamb.official duties• Most senators complain that their perpetual race for money distracts them from official duties.• The privileges are supposed to cover mail sent as part of official duties.• Thus school officials are protected for good-faith actions taken to fulfill their official duties.• Not long after that meeting I was faced with a problem over my official duties and I urgently sought his advice.• Eldrige devoted too much of his time to official duties and not enough to his family.• What characterises bureaucracy is the rational and systematic way in which official duties are defined and distributed.• Most of his official duties had entailed preparations for the annual fish fry.• The manner in which coroners perform their official duties varies widely.official line• He quickly established its critical reputation and the Institute became the focal point of specialist dissent from the official line.• Is this Dunfermline's official line?• Journalists too easily accept the official line.• Or proof of energies undimmed, as says the official line.• There were points of Government policy where I disagreed with the official line.• The official line is that it remains Government policy never to comment on allegations of this nature.• The volatility and their non-guaranteed status do not sit comfortably with the official line linking the two benefits.• The official line on all this often sounds remarkably complacent.From Longman Business Dictionaryofficialof‧fi‧cial1 /əˈfɪʃəl/ adjective1approved of or done by someone in authority, especially the governmentYou have to get official permission to build a new house.Have you signed the necessary official documents?the official inquiry into the scandal2done as part of your job and not for your own private purposesAre you here in your official capacity?If you have to go away from the office on official business, the company will pay for the cost of travel.The agreement was signed during an official visit to France by the Prime Minister.3chosen to represent someone or an organization, or do something for themThe role of trade unions as workers’ official representatives comes into play during strikes and other kinds of industrial action.officialofficial2 noun [countable] someone who has a responsible position in an organizationtrade union officialsa government official 