What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
officer
Example
The police officer helped direct traffic after the accident. [officer: noun]
Example
She was promoted to the rank of officer in the army. [officer: noun]
official
Example
The official announcement will be made tomorrow. [official: adjective]
Example
He was elected as an official representative of his district. [official: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Officer is more commonly used in everyday language than official. Officer is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while official is more commonly used in formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between officer and official?
Official is generally considered more formal than officer. While officer can be used in both formal and informal contexts, official is typically reserved for formal situations, such as legal documents or government communications.
