-sh(ə)lē, -li adverb
1. : with official authorization : formally
the bridge will be officially opened next week
2. : in an official capacity
officially responsible for the disaster, as the man charged … with the security of all frontiers — Robert Graves
3. : professedly , publicly , ostensibly
this is the dry season; officially , no rain should fall — Marjory J. Douglas
— often contrasted with actually