# office

/ˈɔfɪs/ (US) · /ˈɒfɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/office
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a place of work

noun · CEFR A1

a room or building where people work at desks or computers.

For teachers: a physical location, such as a room or suite, dedicated to administrative, professional, or clerical work.

- I have to go to the office early tomorrow to finish the report.
- The company moved its main office to a modern glass building in the city centre to accommodate the growing marketing team.

### 2. a position of authority

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

an important job or position of power, especially in the government.

For teachers: a position of duty, trust, or authority, particularly within a government or large organisation.

- The new mayor will take office in January.
- After four years in office, the minister decided not to run for re-election, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

### 3. a government department

noun · CEFR B1

a department of the government that deals with a specific area.

For teachers: a major administrative division or department of a national or local government.

- You need to visit the immigration office to renew your visa.
- The Foreign Office issued a travel warning for the region following the recent political unrest.

### 4. software suite

noun · CEFR B1

a group of computer programs used for work, like writing documents or making spreadsheets.

For teachers: a suite of productivity software typically comprising a word processor, spreadsheet application, and presentation tool.

- I installed a new version of office on my laptop last night.
- Proficiency in various office applications is a mandatory requirement for this administrative assistant position.

### 5. religious service

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a set of prayers or a religious ceremony.

For teachers: a prescribed form of Christian worship or a series of daily prayers.

- The monks gathered in the chapel for the morning office.
- The Daily Office remains a central pillar of liturgical life in many Anglican and Catholic traditions.

### 6. to have a workspace

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to have or use a specific place as your workspace.

For teachers: to maintain or be provided with a professional workspace; often used intransitively to describe where a person is based.

- The consultants office out of the downtown branch.
- Although the CEO is frequently travelling, she officially offices in the London headquarters.

## Examples

- I work in a small office in the city center.
- The company moved to a larger office because they hired ten new employees last month.
- While remote work has become increasingly popular, many corporations still maintain a central office to foster collaboration and provide a dedicated space for client meetings.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.