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.
n.
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.
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