official

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əˈfɪʃəl/ UK /əˈfɪʃ(ə)l/ See IPA manual

Freq #2058

Meanings

1

adj
Approved by or coming from a person in authority.

We are still waiting for the official results of the election.
2

adj
Relating to a position of authority or to public duties.

The president is on an official visit to Japan.
3

noun
A person who holds a position of authority in an organization or government.

A government official answered the journalists' questions.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

approveddecreedrecognized sanctioned

Opposites

unofficial

Word family

Forms officials

Derived forms antiofficialco-officialcounterofficialex-officialextraofficialinofficialnon-officialnonofficialofficialateofficialiseofficialismofficialist

Related forms office officer officiate ruler

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English official, from Old French official, from Latin officiālis, from Latin officium (“duty, service”), by surface analysis, office + -ial.

*h₃ep- Proto-Indo-European official Middle English officiālis Latin officium Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# official

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /əˈfɪʃəl/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈfɪʃ(ə)l/
**Frequency rank:** 2058

## Meanings
1. Approved by or coming from a person in authority.
2. Relating to a position of authority or to public duties.
3. A person who holds a position of authority in an organization or government.

## Examples
- We are still waiting for the official results of the election.
- The president is on an official visit to Japan.
- A government official answered the journalists' questions.

## Synonyms
- approved
- decreed
- recognized
- sanctioned

## Antonyms
- unofficial

## Derived Forms
- antiofficial
- co-official
- counterofficial
- ex-official
- extraofficial
- inofficial
- non-official
- nonofficial
- officialate
- officialise
- officialism
- officialist

## Related Forms
- office
- officer
- officiate
- ruler

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₃ep-
- Root: official
- Root: officiālis
- Root: officium
- Affix: -ial - relating to

## Etymology
From Middle English official, from Old French official, from Latin officiālis, from Latin officium (“duty, service”), by surface analysis, office + -ial.

## AI Etymology
Official comes from Middle English official, from Old French official, from Latin officiālis, from Latin officium (“duty, service”), by surface analysis, office + -ial. The historical chain includes Proto-Indo-European *h₃ep-, Middle English official, Old French official, Latin officiālis, and Latin officium. Modern senses include approved by or coming from a person in authority and relating to a position of authority or to public duties. The wider word family includes derivatives such as antiofficial, co-official, counterofficial, ex-official, extraofficial, and inofficial and related forms such as office, officer, officiate, and ruler.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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