/ əˈfɪʃl; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ only before noun ] connected with the job of sb who is in a position of authority :
official responsibilities
the Prime Minister's official residence
He attended in his official capacity as mayor.
This was her first official engagement.
He made an official visit to Tokyo in March.
2.
[ usually before noun ] agreed to, said, done, etc. by sb who is in a position of authority :
an official announcement / decision / statement
according to official statistics / figures
An official inquiry has been launched into the cause of the accident.
The country's official language is Spanish.
I intend to lodge an official complaint (= to complain to sb in authority) .
The news is not yet official.
3.
[ only before noun ] that is told to the public but may not be true :
I only knew the official version of events.
The official story has always been that they are just good friends.
4.
[ only before noun ] formal and attended by people in authority :
an official function / reception
The official opening is planned for October.
OPP unofficial
■ noun
(often in compounds) a person who is in a position of authority in a large organization :
a bank / company / court / government official
a senior official in the State Department
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally as a noun): via Old French from Latin officialis , from officium performance of a task (in medieval Latin also office, divine service), based on opus work + facere do.