OFFICIAL

official

(adjective) having official authority or sanction; “official permission”; “an official representative”

official

(adjective) verified officially; “the election returns are now official”

official

(adjective) (of a church) given official status as a national or state institution

official, prescribed

(adjective) conforming to set usage, procedure, or discipline; “in prescribed order”

official

(adjective) of or relating to an office; “official privileges”

official

(noun) someone who administers the rules of a game or sport; “the golfer asked for an official who could give him a ruling”

official, functionary

(noun) a worker who holds or is invested with an office

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

official (comparative more official, superlative most official)

Of or pertaining to an office or public trust.

Derived from the proper office or officer, or from the proper authority; made or communicated by virtue of authority

Approved by authority; authorized.

(Of a statement) Dubious but recognized by authorities as truth and/or canon.

(pharmaceutical) Sanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; officinal.

Discharging an office or function.

Relating to an office; especially, to a subordinate executive officer or attendant.

Relating to an ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc, with charge of the spiritual jurisdiction.

(slang) True, real, beyond doubt.

(pharmacology) Listen in a national pharmacopeia.

Antonyms

• unofficial

Noun

official (plural officials)

An office holder invested with powers and authorities.

A person responsible for applying the rules of a game or sport in a competition.

Hyponyms

• See also official

Source: Wiktionary

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Of*fi"cial, a. Etym: [L. officialis: cf. F. officiel. See Office, and cf. Official, n.]

1. Of or pertaining to an office or public trust; as, official duties, or routine. That, in the official marks invested, you Anon do meet the senate. Shak.

2. Derived from the proper office or officer, or from the proper authority; made or communicated by virtue of authority; as, an official statement or report.

3. (Pharm.)

Definition: Approved by authority; sanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; as, an official drug or preparation. Cf. Officinal.

4. Discharging an office or function. [Obs.] The stomach and other parts official unto nutrition. Sir T. Browne.

Of*fi"cial, n. Etym: [L. officialis a magistrate's servant or attendant: cf.F. official. See Official, a., and cf. Officer.]

1. One who holds an office; esp., a subordinate executive officer or attendant.

2. An ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc., with charge of the spiritual jurisdiction. Blackstone.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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