of ‧ fi ‧ cer S1 W1 /ˈɒfəsə, ˈɒfɪsə $ ˈɒːfəsər, ˈɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ office , ↑ officer , ↑ official , ↑ officialdom , ↑ officialese , ↑ officiousness ; adverb : ↑ officially ≠ ↑ unofficially , ↑ officiously ; adjective : ↑ official ≠ ↑ unofficial , ↑ officious ; verb : ↑ officiate ]
1 . someone who is in a position of authority in the army, navy etc
an army/naval/military etc officer
a commanding officer of the SAS
2 . someone who is in a position in an organization or the government:
a prison officer
the chief medical officer
a former Cabinet officer
the public information officer
⇨ ↑ chief executive officer , ⇨ press officer at ↑ press office , ⇨ ↑ probation officer , ↑ returning officer
3 . a member of the police SYN police officer , policeman , policewoman :
a request for 400 more officers
4 . Officer American English a title for a policeman or policewoman:
Officer Murdoch
• • •
THESAURUS
■ people in an army
▪ soldier someone who is in the army, especially someone who is not an officer:
Three soldiers were killed in an hour-long gun battle.
▪ troops soldiers, especially those who are taking part in a military attack:
The government sent more troops to Iraq.
▪ serviceman/servicewoman a man or woman who is in the army, air force, or navy:
The hospital treats injured servicemen and women.
▪ officer a high-ranking member of the army, air force, or navy who is in charge of a group of soldiers, sailors etc:
an army officer