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9 dictionary results for: Official

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

of·fi·cial

[uh-fish-uh

l] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a person appointed or elected to an office or charged with certain duties.

–adjective

2.	of or pertaining to an office or position of duty, trust, or authority: official powers.

3.	authorized or issued authoritatively: an official report.

4.	holding office.

5.	appointed or authorized to act in a designated capacity: an official representative.

6.	(of an activity or event) intended for the notice of the public and performed or held on behalf of officials or of an organization; formal: the official opening of a store.

7.	Pharmacology. noting drugs or drug preparations that are recognized by and that conform to the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary.

[Origin: 1300–50; ME < LL officiālis of duty, equiv. to L offici(um) office + -ālis -al¹

]

—Related forms

of·fi·cial·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

of·fi·cial (ə-fĭsh'əl) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Of or relating to an office or a post of authority: official duties.
Authorized by a proper authority; authoritative: official permission.
Holding office or serving in a public capacity: an official representative.
Characteristic of or befitting a person of authority; formal: an official banquet.
Authorized by or contained in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary. Used of drugs.

One who holds an office or position, especially one who acts in a subordinate capacity for an institution such as a corporation or governmental agency.
Sports A referee or umpire.

[From Middle English, ecclesiastical officer, from Old French, from Latin officiālis, an attendant of an office, from officium, duty, service; see office.]

of·fi'cial·dom n., of·fi'cial·ly adv.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
official (n.)

1314, from O.Fr. official (12c.), from L. officialis "attendant to a magistrate, public official," noun use of officialis (adj.) "of or belonging to duty, service, or office," from officium (see office). Meaning "person in charge of some public work or duty" first recorded 1555. The adj. is first attested 1533, from O.Fr. oficial, from L. officialis. Officialese "language of officialdom" first recorded 1884.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

official
adjective
1.	having official authority or sanction; "official permission"; "an official representative" [ant: unofficial]
2.	of or relating to an office; "official privileges"
3.	verified officially; "the election returns are now official"
4.	conforming to set usage, procedure, or discipline; "in prescribed order"
5.	(of a church) given official status as a national or state institution
noun
1.	a worker who holds or is invested with an office
2.	someone who administers the rules of a game or sport; "the golfer asked for an official who could give him a ruling"

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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

official of·fi·cial (ə-fĭsh'əl)
adj.
Authorized by or contained in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary. Used of drugs.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: of·fi·cial
Function: noun
: one who holds or is invested with an office esp. in government official>

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: official
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or holding an office, position, or trust <official duties>
2 : fully authorized official policy of the bank> —of·fi·cial·ly adverb

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Official

Of*fi"cial\, a. [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.) Approved by authority; sanctioned by the pharmacop[oe]ia; 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.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Official

Of*fi"cial\, n. [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.

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