official

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English official, from Old French official, from Latin officiālis, from Latin officium (“duty, service”), by surface analysis, office +‎ -ial. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /əˈfɪʃ(ə)l/ Rhymes: -ɪʃəl === Adjective === official (comparative more official, superlative most official) Of or about an office or public trust. Derived from the proper office or officer, or the appropriate authority; made or communicated by authority Approved by authority; authorized. (Of a statement) Dubious but recognized by authorities as the truth or canon. (pharmacology) Sanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; officinal. Discharging an office or function. Relating to an office, especially a subordinate executive officer or attendant. Relating to an ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc., with charge of the spiritual jurisdiction. (informal) True, real, beyond doubt. (pharmacology) Listed in a national pharmacopeia. ==== Antonyms ==== unofficial ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === official (plural officials) An office holder, a person holding an official position in government, sports, or other organization. ==== Synonyms ==== See Thesaurus:official ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === “official”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “official”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. == Middle English == === Alternative forms === officiale, offycyal, offyciall, officiall, offecialle === Etymology === From Old French official, from Latin officiālis; equivalent to office +‎ -al. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɔfisiˈal/, /ɔˈfisial/ === Noun === official (plural officials) An underling of a member of the clergy, often heading a clerical court. A hireling or subordinate; one employed to serve, especially at an estate. ==== Descendants ==== English: official Scots: offeecial ==== References ==== “officiāl, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 20 March 2019. === Adjective === official (plural and weak singular officiale) (of body parts) Functional; serving a purpose. (rare) Requisite or mandatory for a task. ==== Descendants ==== English: official Scots: offeecial ==== References ==== “officiāl, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 20 March 2019. == Old French == === Alternative forms === officiel === Noun === official oblique singular, m (oblique plural officiaus or officiax or officials, nominative singular officiaus or officiax or officials, nominative plural official) court official chamber pot === Adjective === official m (oblique and nominative feminine singular officiale) official; certified or permitted by an authoritative source ==== Descendants ==== → Middle English: official, officiale, offycyal, offyciall, officiall, offecialleEnglish: officialScots: offeecial French: officiel == Portuguese == === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: of‧fi‧ci‧al === Adjective === official m or f (plural officiaes or (obsolete) officiais) pre-reform spelling (used until 1943 in Brazil and 1911 in Portugal) of oficial === Noun === official m or f by sense (plural officiaes or (obsolete) officiais) pre-reform spelling (used until 1943 in Brazil and 1911 in Portugal) of oficial