# officious

/əˈfɪʃəs/ (US) · /əfˈɪʃəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/officious
Updated: 2026-10-10

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Synonyms

interfering, intrusive, bossy, pushy, meddlesome, overbear

## Antonyms

unobtrusive, modest, reserved, diffident

## Pitfalls

- Not "an official person" but "an officious person" — Learners confuse 'official' (relating to an office or authority) with 'officious' (annoyingly eager to use that authority).

## Usage notes

- Typically used to describe people, behavior, or a tone of voice; carries a negative connotation of being annoying and bossy.

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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.