Official əˈfɪʃl News Authority Adjective Announcement/Decision/Statement Figures/Statistics Biography

• an official announcement/decision/statement
• according to official figures/statistics
• the news is not yet official.
• the official biography of the president

official

1. agreed to, said, done, etc. by somebody who is in a position of authority
• an official announcement/decision/statement
• according to official figures/statistics
• The news is not yet official.
• the official biography of the President
• An official inquiry has been launched into the cause of the accident.
• The country's official language is Spanish.
• The film's official website is also very informative.
• I intend to lodge an official complaint (= to complain to somebody in authority).

Extra Examples

• The report revealed official corruption in relation to road building.
• The official news agency reported an attack by rebel soldiers.
• Greater vigilance at the official and unofficial points of entry into the country is required.
• The network's official launch is scheduled for this month.
• The research used material from official documents and newspaper reports.
• The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official government policy.
• Rice prices are up by as much as 13 percent, according to official reports.
• There have been rumours that he is resigning, and today he made it official.
2. connected with the job of somebody who is in a position of authority
• official duties/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.

Extra Examples

• He stepped into the waiting official car.
• The minister was in Berlin on official business.
• The Prime Minister's official spokesman rejected calls for an inquiry.
3. formal and attended by people in authority
• an official function/reception
• The official opening is planned for October.
4. that is told to the public but may not be true
• I only knew the official version of events.
• The official line is that the date for the election has not yet been decided.
• The official story has always been that they are just good friends.
5. used to announce publicly something that you think is obvious or that everyone already knows
• It's official: this is the worst zombie film ever.

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’.