official
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a person who has a position of responsibility in an organisation, like the government or a sports club.
n.a person holding a position of authority or responsibility within a government, institution, or sports body.
Simple“The government official explained the new rules to the reporters.”
In context“A senior official from the Ministry of Finance declined to comment on the proposed tax reforms until the final report was published.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.authorised or approved by a person or group in power.
adj.authorised, sanctioned, or communicated by a proper authority.
Simple“We are still waiting for an official statement from the company.”
In context“The department issued an official directive requiring all staff to undergo safety training before the end of the fiscal year.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.true and certain, often used when something was a secret before.
adj.verified as true or certain; often used to confirm a previously speculative fact.
Simple“It is finally official: they are getting married in June.”
In context“The news became official this morning when the club announced the signing of the new striker on their website.”
Teacher's tipIn informal contexts, this sense is often used to mean 'it is now a public fact'.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
adj.describing a medicine that is listed in a country's book of approved drugs.
adj.recognised by or listed in a national pharmacopeia; meeting the legal standards for medicinal use.
Simple“The pharmacist checked if the drug was listed in the official records.”
In context“The laboratory ensured that the chemical compound met all official standards before it was approved for clinical trials.”
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialised sense used in pharmacology and law; general learners will rarely encounter it.
Synonymsstandardisedpharmacopoeial
official vs officious — Official describes something authorized or formal, while officious describes someone who is annoyingly bossy or meddlesome.
Usage official data · official figures · official confirmed