adj. 1. Of or relating to an office or a post of authority: official duties. 2. Authorized by a proper authority; authoritative: official permission. 3. Holding office or serving in a public capacity: an official representative. 4. Characteristic of or befitting a person of authority; formal: an official banquet. 5. Authorized by or contained in the US Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary. Used of drugs. n. 1. 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. 2. 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·ficial·dom n. of·ficial·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.