[uh-fish-ee-eyt] 
verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.| 1. | to perform the office of a member of the clergy, as at a divine service. |
| 2. | to perform the duties or function of some office or position. |
| 3. | to serve as referee, umpire, or other official in a sports contest or game. |
| 4. | to serve as the priest or minister of (a divine service, religious ceremony, etc.). |
| 5. | to perform, carry out, or fulfill (an official duty or function). |
| 6. | to act as a referee, umpire, timekeeper, or other official for (a sports contest or game). |
| of·fi·ci·ate (ə-fĭsh'ē-āt') v. of·fi·ci·at·ed, of·fi·ci·at·ing, of·fi·ci·ates v. intr.
[Medieval Latin officiāre, officiāt-, to conduct, from Latin officium, service, duty; see office.] of·fi'ci·a'tion n., of·fi'ci·a'tor n. Usage Note: Officiate has long seen use as an intransitive verb, but it has recently developed a transitive use. A vast majority of the Usage Panel (91 percent) approves of the intransitive use of officiate, as in the sentence The wedding was held in the garden, a minister and priest officiating. The Panel views transitive uses much less favorably. The use of officiate in sporting contexts, as in the sentence He officiated National Hockey League games for 15 years is approved by only 38 percent of the Panel. This usage may be unremarkable when appearing on the sports page, but it should be avoided in general writing. Support for this usage in more traditional contexts, such as weddings, plummets further. Only 22 percent of the Panel approves of the sentence A minister officiated the wedding, which was held in a garden. |
iˌeɪt