ENGLISH
REFERENCE

officially

adv. manner
B1 Intermediate US //əˈfɪʃəɫi// UK //əfˈɪʃəlˌi// of·fi·cial·ly Slang

adv. in a way that is approved by the government or a person in charge. You use this when something is formal, legal, or publicly announced.

adv. in a formal or authoritative manner; according to a set of rules or public announcement. Often used to distinguish a formal status from an informal or private reality.


SIMPLE

The new law officially starts tomorrow.

CONTEXTUAL

Although they have lived together for years, they only became officially married last weekend at city hall.

COMPLEX

The committee officially declared the results of the election after a week of careful counting and verification of the paper ballots.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From official + -ly.

Usage

Typically placed before the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause.

Pitfall

The store is official closed.The store is officially closed.Learners often use the adjective 'official' when the adverb 'officially' is required to modify a verb or adjective.

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