office

Definition of officenext

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 Another trinket in Carnevali’s office is a yellow submarine with the emblem of Villarreal. James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 May 2026 At that event, Cameron personally invited Kilcher to visit his office. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 May 2026 Images captured at the public ceremony showed the mayor and King exchanging a handshake, though neither Mamdani’s office nor Buckingham Palace disclosed specifics of their conversation. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2026 Here's what to know about Hicks and the sheriff's office's operation. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
Noun
  • The vote requests that the department’s all-civilian watchdog adopt new guidelines similar to San Francisco, which bars police officers from pulling people over for broken taillights and other minor equipment violations unless there is a safety threat.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • This promotion puts him atop the Eagles’ scouting department.
    Zach Berman, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Congress has a constitutional duty here.
    Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
  • Prosecutors said Schroer’s posts were intended to retaliate against Noem and Bondi over the performance of their official duties while serving in office.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • The nomination signals Trump is backing away from promises to eliminate FEMA, as Hamilton joins a beleaguered agency depleted by staff departures and a 75-day DHS shutdown.
    Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • The technology will allow communication with the agency, to help reduce travel times, records show.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Burns asked if Becerra bore responsibility for losing contact with tens of thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children who came over the southern border and were placed with often unrelated adult sponsors across the United States by HHS during the Biden administration.
    Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 12 May 2026
  • Why the Sedins would be eager to take on this challenge, this greater level of responsibility and legacy-threatening scrutiny that will come attached to it, at this low point in franchise history, is beyond me.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Three-bureau credit alerts can help catch new-account fraud.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
  • One section of the FBI case file includes a memo written by an agent in the bureau's Dallas field office to FBI headquarters.
    Stefan Becket, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Later, the Moon squares the Sun and may test timing or obligations, but do not let that dim momentum.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
  • The passport denial program has existed for decades and is used by federal and state officials as a tool to enforce past-due child support obligations.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Carolyn Hax started her Washington Post advice column in 1997, after five years on the Style desk and none as a therapist.
    Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 15 May 2026
  • My mother would leave her desk only to cook, clean the house and iron clothes, then return to work.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • Often, everyone is trying their best but finding that there are simply too many competing and seemingly conflicting needs.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
  • Later, the Moon squares the Sun and could expose tension between private needs and outside expectations.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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