official

UK: /əˈfɪʃ^əl/ US: /əˈfɪʃəl/ ,(ə fish′əl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

of•fi•cial /əˈfɪʃəl/   n. [countable]

1. a person who is appointed or elected to an office or is charged with certain duties:
   an official of the court.

adj. 

2. of or relating to an office or to a position of duty, trust, or authority:
   [before a noun] official powers.
3. appointed, authorized, recognized, or approved by a government or organization:
   an official flag.
4. formal;
   ceremonial:
   [before a noun] an official visit by the head of state.

of•fi•cial•ism, n. [uncountable]
of•fi•cial•ly, adv. See -oper-, -fac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

of•fi•cial  (ə fish′əl), n. 

1. a person appointed or elected to an office or charged with certain duties.

adj. 

2. of or pertaining to an office or position of duty, trust, or authority:
   official powers.
3. authorized or issued authoritatively:
   an official report.
4. holding office.
5. appointed or authorized to act in a designated capacity:
   an official representative.
6. (of an activity or event) intended for the notice of the public and performed or held on behalf of officials or of an organization;
   formal:
   the official opening of a store.
7. Drugs [Pharm.] noting drugs or drug preparations that are recognized by and that conform to the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary.

• Late Latin officiālis of duty, equivalent. to Latin offici(um) office + -ālis -al¹
• Middle English 1300–50

of•fi′cial•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

official / əˈfɪʃəl/ adjective

1. of or relating to an office, its administration, or its duration
2. sanctioned by, recognized by, or derived from authority: an official statement
3. having a formal ceremonial character: an official dinner

noun

1. a person who holds a position in an organization, government department, etc, esp a subordinate position