official

views updated Jun 08 2018

of·fi·cial / əˈfishəl/ • adj. of or relating to an authority or public body and its duties, actions, and responsibilities: the governor's official engagements. ∎  having the approval or authorization of such a body: French is the official language of Quebec. ∎  employed by such a body in a position of authority or trust: an official spokesman. ∎  emanating from or attributable to a person in office; properly authorized: official statistics. ∎ often derog. perceived as characteristic of officials and bureaucracy; officious: he sat up straight and became official.• n. a person holding public office or having official duties, esp. as a representative of an organization or government department: a union official.DERIVATIVES: of·fi·cial·dom n.of·fi·cial·ism n.of·fi·cial·ize v.