Word
officious
Phoneticsof·fi·cious
US/əˈfɪʃəs/
UK/əfˈɪʃəs/
Definition
adj. describing someone who is too eager to tell others what to do or to offer help that is not wanted. You use this for people who act like they have more authority than they really do.
adj. characterised by the intrusive offering of unwanted advice or services, typically in a self-important or overbearing manner. Often describes minor officials who enforce rules too strictly to feel powerful.
Examples
“The officious security guard kept asking to see my ID.”
“We were trying to enjoy our picnic when an officious park warden arrived to lecture us on the exact height of the grass.”
“The bureaucracy was further complicated by an officious clerk who insisted on verifying every signature against a database that had not been updated in a decade.”
Examples
simple
“The officious security guard kept asking to see my ID.”
contextual
“We were trying to enjoy our picnic when an officious park warden arrived to lecture us on the exact height of the grass.”
complex
“The bureaucracy was further complicated by an officious clerk who insisted on verifying every signature against a database that had not been updated in a decade.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “officious” in context.
Verb
01. dislike officious
“Most employees dislike officious managers who micromanage every minor task.”
verb + adj
02. ignore officious
“I decided to ignore officious advice from neighbors who weren't involved in the project.”
verb + adj
03. officious hover
“An officious waiter hovered by our table, constantly refilling water after every sip.”
adj + verb
04. officious interfere
“The officious clerk interfered in a conversation that had nothing to do with him.”
adj + verb
Adjective
05. overly officious
“The security guard was overly officious, checking every single pocket of my bag.”
adv + adj
06. tiringly officious
“His tiringly officious manner made the simple registration process take an hour.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. officious bureaucrat
“We were stopped by an officious bureaucrat who insisted on seeing three forms of ID.”
adj + noun
08. officious bystander
“The legal test often refers to the 'officious bystander' to determine implied terms.”
adj + noun
09. be officious and meddlesome
“The new supervisor proved to be officious and meddlesome from his very first day.”
10. in an officious manner
“He spoke in an officious manner that immediately alienated his new colleagues.”
Usage
Typically used to describe people, behavior, or a tone of voice; carries a negative connotation of being annoying and bossy.
Pitfall
an official person
an officious person
Learners confuse 'official' (relating to an office or authority) with 'officious' (annoyingly eager to use that authority).
Confusables
Official describes something authorized or formal, while officious describes someone who is annoyingly bossy or meddlesome.
RememberOfficial = Office power. Officious = Nosy office-mate.
Real-World Examples
“As the officious Kittridge, director of the Impossible Mission Force, Czerny sneered at star Tom Cruise with such delicious condescension that their tetchy tête-à-tête in a Prague restaurant — shot at deliriously canted angles by the director Brian De Palma — became one of the film’s highlights.” “Even before Covid, Britain had thousands of officious wardens policing public space.” “Godwin complicates the caregiver dynamic by making young Helen an officious despot (“Already I was learning how effectively she could be managed by a simple look of disdain,” she confesses after Flora’s been in the house less than an hour), while Flora flutters around full of deference and praise.” “The officious aviation enthusiast, whose hair is dyed blonde, insists on being the undisputed leader, claiming an additional share of the scarce water supply.” Etymology
15th century, from Middle English offycyous, from Latin officiōsus ("kindly"), from officium ("service").
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/officious