officers definition | Dictionary.com

of⋅fi⋅cer

[aw-fuh-ser, of-uh-]

–noun

1.	a person who holds a position of rank or authority in the army, navy, air force, or any similar organization, esp. one who holds a commission.

2.	a member of a police department or a constable.

3.	a person licensed to take full or partial responsibility for the operation of a merchant ship or other large civilian ship; a master or mate.

4.	a person appointed or elected to some position of responsibility or authority in the government, a corporation, a society, etc.

5.	(in some honorary orders) a member of any rank except the lowest.

6.	Obsolete. an agent.

–verb (used with object)

7.	to furnish with officers.

8.	to command or direct as an officer does.

9.	to direct, conduct, or manage.

Origin:
1275–1325; ME < AF; MF officier < ML officiārius, equiv. to L offici(um) office + -ārius -ary; see -er ² , -ier ²

Related forms:

of⋅fi⋅ce⋅ri⋅al [aw-fuh-seer-ee-uh

l, of-uh-]

, adjective

of⋅fi⋅cer⋅less, adjective

of⋅fi⋅cer⋅ship, of⋅fi⋅cer⋅hood, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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of·fi·cer (ô'fĭ-sər, ŏf'ĭ-)

One who holds an office of authority or trust in an organization, such as a corporation or government.
One who holds a commission in the armed forces.
A person licensed in the merchant marine as master, mate, chief engineer, or assistant engineer.
A police officer.

tr.v. of·fi·cered, of·fi·cer·ing, of·fi·cers

[Middle English, from Old French officier, from Medieval Latin officārius, from Latin officium, service, duty; see office.]

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