# official

/əˈfɪʃəɫ/ (US) · /əfˈɪʃəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/official
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person in authority

noun · CEFR B1

a person who has a position of responsibility in an organisation, like the government or a sports club.

For teachers: a person holding a position of authority or responsibility within a government, institution, or sports body.

- The government official explained the new rules to the reporters.
- A senior official from the Ministry of Finance declined to comment on the proposed tax reforms until the final report was published.

### 2. formally approved

adjective · CEFR B1

authorised or approved by a person or group in power.

For teachers: authorised, sanctioned, or communicated by a proper authority.

- We are still waiting for an official statement from the company.
- The department issued an official directive requiring all staff to undergo safety training before the end of the fiscal year.

### 3. real or certain

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

true and certain, often used when something was a secret before.

For teachers: verified as true or certain; often used to confirm a previously speculative fact.

- It is finally official: they are getting married in June.
- The news became official this morning when the club announced the signing of the new striker on their website.

Teaching tip: In informal contexts, this sense is often used to mean 'it is now a public fact'.

### 4. medical standards

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing a medicine that is listed in a country's book of approved drugs.

For teachers: recognised by or listed in a national pharmacopeia; meeting the legal standards for medicinal use.

- The pharmacist checked if the drug was listed in the official records.
- The laboratory ensured that the chemical compound met all official standards before it was approved for clinical trials.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialised sense used in pharmacology and law; general learners will rarely encounter it.

## Examples

- A government official explained the new law to the reporters.
- The health official visited the local clinic to ensure all safety protocols were being followed correctly.
- Despite the public outcry, the senior official refused to comment on the investigation until all the evidence had been thoroughly reviewed by the committee.

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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.