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 On Patel's first day leading the bureau, FBI managers were told Friday that up to 1,500 staff and agents would be transferred out of the bureau's Washington headquarters to satellite offices across the country. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 24 Feb. 2025 By the end of six days at the box office, Chhaava crossed $25 million at the global box office. Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 As of February 2021, Belk had about 1,200 corporate office employees. Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2025 That tradition, however, changed during Trump’s first term in office. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
Noun
  • But leaders of more than a dozen federal agencies and departments revolted and told employees, that the world's wealthiest man isn't their boss.
    Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
  • In the past month, thousands of probationary employees across departments and agencies have been terminated.
    Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The fresh round of duties on Chinese goods doubled an initial set of tariffs placed on China last month.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The constant grind of teaching, research and administrative duties can take a toll.
    Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • By Missal's count, the VA inspector general's oversight resulted in $45 billion being saved at the agency during his tenure.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 6 Mar. 2025
  • This week’s back-to-back moon landings are part of NASA’s commercial lunar delivery program meant to get the space agency’s experiments to the gray, dusty surface and jump-start business.
    Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • More importantly, recalls weaken voter responsibility.
    Kam Buckner, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Nurkic’s responsibilities with his new team extend past that, though.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Doe said the plan from CFPB leaders and DOGE was to cut the bureau’s workforce in three phases.
    Hugh Son, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The 50-year-old former New York police officer and U.S. Secret Service agent will soon join the bureau, despite not having prior experience in federal law enforcement.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • In fact, the plan that was presented was the most conservative strategy given the city’s outstanding general obligation debt.
    Pat Dowell, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Without a binding state law, agencies are under no formal obligation to change their official language — and changing every reference on Texas’ multiple state agency websites could take a while.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • In our business, doing market studies for BTR developers and investors, the flow of deals coming across our desks has increased compared with last year, when BTR deals were more challenged.
    Brad Hunter, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Like Nila—a budding photographer who paints a quote from Goethe above her desk—these kids are sensitive and artsy, with a proud distrust of mainstream German society.
    Anahid Nersessian, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Housing is the solution, Kushel said, but until enough of it is available, there is a need to bring more resources to the street, such as methadone or other medications that treat opioid addiction.
    Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Over the last six years, the aerospace industry has yet to match its 2018 record production and has also fallen short of manufacturing enough planes to satisfy the needs of airlines.
    Oliver Wyman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on office

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