official

[əˈfɪʃ(ə)l]

official Definition

• 1. relating to an authority or public body and its duties, actions, and responsibilities
• 2. having the approval or authorization of such an authority or public body

Using official: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "official" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The official report was released yesterday.

• Example

  The official language of Brazil is Portuguese.

• Example

  The official announcement will be made tomorrow.

• Example

  The official website for the event has all the information you need.

official Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for official

• authorized
• approved
• sanctioned
• legitimate
• formal

Antonyms for official

• unofficial
• unauthorized
• informal

Idioms Using official

• make something official

  to formalize or finalize something, typically by obtaining approval or authorization from an authority or public body

  Example

  They plan to make their engagement official by announcing it at the party.

• in an official capacity

  acting in one's official role or position

  Example

  The president visited the disaster site in an official capacity to assess the damage.

• hold officialdom accountable

  to demand responsibility or justification from those in official positions

  Example

  The citizens held officialdom accountable for the corruption scandal.

Phrases with official

• official capacity

  the role or position held by someone in an official capacity

  Example

  He acted in his official capacity as the ambassador.

• official secrets

  information that is kept secret by a government or other official organization

  Example

  The leak of official secrets caused a scandal.

• officialdom

  the people who work in official positions in a government or other organization

  Example

  She was frustrated by the bureaucracy and officialdom she encountered.

Origins of official

from Old French 'oficier', meaning 'perform a duty'

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Summary: official in Brief

The term 'official' [əˈfɪʃ(ə)l] refers to something that is authorized or approved by an authority or public body. It can describe anything from reports and announcements to languages and websites. Phrases like 'official capacity' and 'official secrets' denote roles and information related to official positions, while idioms like 'make something official' and 'hold officialdom accountable' describe formalizing or demanding accountability from those in official positions.