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

That's how much has been raised from 4,000 donors for the California Community Foundations Wildlife Recovery Fund, Los Angeles officials said Friday. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

The child experienced symptoms of fever and eye irritation, and has since fully recovered, officials said. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025

Adjective

The British royal family turned their attention to collecting works that reflected the moment by acquiring wartime landscapes by Olive Edis, Britain’s first official female war photographer. —Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 6 Jan. 2025

Some of the most recognizable official authorities include the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the Michigan Gaming Control Board and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. —Matthew Gover, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025