Synonyms of official

official 1 of 2

noun

ə-ˈfi-shəl 

as in officer

a person who holds a public office

some of our best public officials do their jobs quietly and are never in the news

Synonyms & Similar Words

• officer
• administrator
• director
• manager
• executive
• functionary
• commissioner
• officeholder
• public servant
• chair
• chairman
• superintendent
• supervisor
• bureaucrat
• regulator
• head
• minion
• underling
• flunkey
• flunky
• flunkie
• co-official

official

2 of 2

adjective

as in authorized

ordered or allowed by those in authority

the official languages for those Olympic Games were French and English

Synonyms & Similar Words

• authorized
• legitimate
• promoted
• legal
• lawful
• sanctioned
• suggested
• authoritative
• supported
• approved
• endorsed
• licensed
• regulation
• permissible
• certified
• legit
• canonical
• indorsed
• semiofficial
• licit
• encouraged
• abetted
• ex officio

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unofficial
• unauthorized
• illegal
• unlawful
• nonofficial
• wrongful
• illicit
• unsanctioned
• illegitimate
• impermissible
• lawless
• unlicensed
• unapproved
• verboten

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of official

Noun

At the height of operations, the Bowyer Gambling business contained at least 700 sports wagering clients, according to federal law enforcement officials, with many of the wagers transmitted offshore through a Costa Rican call center. —Matt Rybaltowski, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Federal officials would not provide details about the patient’s symptoms, deferring all inquiries to Louisiana’s Department of Public Health. Emails and calls to that agency went unanswered. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Bosa didn't practice all week, signaling his official game status. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

Santa should arrive at Metro Hall by 8 p.m., which is when the official Light Up Louisville ceremony will begin. —Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 7 Dec. 2024