office

Synonym Chooser

How is the word office distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of office are duty, function, and province. While all these words mean "the acts or operations expected of a person or thing," office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others.

they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor — W. E. Gladstone

In what contexts can duty take the place of office?

While the synonyms duty and office are close in meaning, duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling.

it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case — R. B. Taney

When is it sensible to use function instead of office?

While in some cases nearly identical to office, function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work.

the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information — Aldous Huxley

When could province be used to replace office?

The meanings of province and office largely overlap; however, province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one.

I felt it was not my province to inquire — Anne Brontë

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of office Within hours of Trump being sworn in office in January, Milley’s portrait as chairman of the Joint Chiefs was removed from the Pentagon. Tara Copp, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025 According to the sheriff's office, neither of the boys were injured. Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025 Democrats, on the other hand, are hoping to not only tap into their base, but also persuade outside voters unhappy with Trump’s first three months in office. Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025 California Dreaming The Southern California sports powers haven’t won a women’s basketball title since Police Academy—the very first one—was killing at the box office. Sean Gregory, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
Noun
  • At the time of arrest, Morgan was taken in by the LASD for misdemeanor domestic violence, while Delaney was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, according to department documents.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The African American architect from Philadelphia, who died in 1950 at age 68, was the first Black graduate from the University of Pennsylvania’s architecture department and would ultimately become cohead of the renowned Horace Trumbauer firm.
    Evan Nicole Brown, Architectural Digest, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Trump's advisers are in intensive deliberations about the exact scope of the import duties to be imposed, which officials have described as affecting trillions of dollars' worth of trade.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Even with that understanding, Jenkins has been relieved of his duties.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Membership dues contributed about $2.7 million to the Visit Orlando, a fraction of the agency’s $109 million budget, according to the latest tax filings.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The Trump administration has targeted the agency for cuts and ex-director Rohit Chopra was fired less than two weeks into Trump’s second term.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Skills and experience requirements: a minimum of 10 years of experience in a professional services leadership role confirmable P&L responsibilities and experience managing large teams.
    Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The association is governed by a board of journalists who are elected by their press corps peers to carry out the responsibilities that the Trump White House is now plotting to take over.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The government requires non-Norwegians to obtain prior permission before visiting. Svalbard, in contrast, has a total population of about 2,500, as of the latest data from Norway's statistics bureau.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Beginning the debt settlement process usually requires you to stop making payments on your bills, which is reported to the credit bureaus and can cause your credit score to drop.
    Victor Rosario, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Influenced by Charles Darwin’s work on evolution, Maine differentiated between a dynamic West that embraced the rights of individuals and a frozen non-West forever caught in the throes of kinship obligations.
    Zachariah Mampilly, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Numerous states and school districts have tried to wiggle out of their legal and financial obligations to educate all students with disabilities, as outlined by federal and state laws.
    Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Read more Colorado lawmakers pass 3 gun-control measures including bill limiting sale of semiautomatic weapons Colorado lawmakers on Friday sent three gun-control measures regulating the sale of ammunition and firearms to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk for passage into law.
    The Denver Post, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025
  • As May approaches the eastern brown snake, the reptile darts off, crossing the pink room to slither under a desk.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Some committee members have indicated that Southington doesn’t need a bus system, that micro transit services (small buses offering door to door service) would be sufficient to satisfy the public transportation needs of Southington’s residents.
    George Pohorilak, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The group offers a time for encouragement and a place to share needs, frustrations and victories.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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