# Official > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Official > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Official.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official > Source revision: 1356645461 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Someone who holds an office For other uses, see [Official (disambiguation)](/source/Official_(disambiguation)). "Functionaries" redirects here. For the users on Wikipedia, see [Wikipedia:Functionaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Functionaries). **Ambtenaar** ("government official"), by Louis Dusée, [Utrecht](/source/Utrecht), 1961 An **official** is someone who holds an office (function or [mandate](/source/Mandate_(politics)), regardless of whether it carries an actual [working space](/source/Office) with it) in an [organization](/source/Organization) or government and participates in the exercise of [authority](/source/Authority) (either their own or that of their superior or employer, public or legally private). The term *[officer](/source/Officer)* is close to being a synonym, but it has more military [connotations](/source/Connotation). An **elected official** is a person who is an official by virtue of an [election](/source/Election). Officials may also be appointed *[ex officio](/source/Ex_officio)* (by virtue of another office, often in a specified capacity, such as presiding, advisory, secretary). Some official positions may be [inherited](/source/Inheritance). A **public official** is an official of central or local [government](/source/Government). A person who currently holds an office is referred to as an [incumbent](/source/Incumbent). Used as an [adjective](#Adjective), something "official" refers to something endowed with governmental or other authoritative recognition or mandate, as in [official language](/source/Official_language), [official gazette](/source/Official_gazette), or [official scorer](/source/Official_scorer). A **functionary** is someone who carries out a particular role within an organization; this again is quite a close synonym for official, as a [noun](/source/Noun), but with connotations closer to [bureaucrat](/source/Bureaucrat). Any such person acts in their **official capacity** in carrying out the duties of their office; they are also said to **officiate**, for example, in a [ceremony](/source/Ceremony). In some court cases, claims made against an organisation because of its alleged actions may also be brought against persons "acting in their official capacity". In the UK, the [Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_Kingdom) case of *TRA, R. v. United Kingdom* (2019) looks into this usage and provides details of some significant court cases where "acting in an official capacity" has been interpreted.[1] ## Etymology The word *official* as a [noun](/source/Noun) has been recorded since the [Middle English](/source/Middle_English) period, first seen in 1314.[2] It comes from the [Old French](/source/Old_French) **official** (12th century), from the [Latin](/source/Latin) **officialis** ("attendant to a magistrate, government official"), the noun use of the original [adjective](/source/Adjective) **officialis** ("of or belonging to duty, service, or office") from **officium** ("office"). The meaning "person in charge of some public work or duty" was first recorded in 1555. The adjective is first attested in English in 1533 via the Old French **oficial**. The informal term *officialese*, the jargon of "officialdom", was first recorded in 1884. ## Noun ### Roman antiquity This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) An **officialis** ([plural](/source/Plural) **officiales**) was the official term (somewhat comparable to a modern [civil servant](/source/Civil_servant)) for any member of the *[officium](/source/Officium_(ancient_Rome))* (staff) of a high dignitary such as a governor. ### Ecclesiastical judiciary Part of a series on the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church Saint Peter Ecclesiastical titles (order of precedence) Pope Pope emeritus Cardinal Cardinal Vicar Crown Prince Protector Moderator of the curia Chaplain of His Holiness Papal legate Papal majordomo Apostolic nuncio Apostolic delegate Apostolic Syndic Apostolic visitor Vicar apostolic Apostolic exarch Apostolic prefect Assistant to the papal throne Eparch Metropolitan Patriarch Catholicos Bishop Archbishop Bishop emeritus Diocesan bishop Major archbishop Primate Suffragan bishop Titular bishop Coadjutor bishop Auxiliary bishop Prelate Provost Pontiff Territorial prelate Territorial abbot Liturgical titles Acolyte Consecrator Lector Subdeacon Administrative and pastoral titles Auditor Brother Chancellor Chaplain Military chaplain Military ordinary Coarb Confessor Consultor Curate Deacon Archdeacon Defender of the bond Definitor Devil's advocate Diocesan administrator Ecclesiastical judge Exorcist Laity Lay abbot Abthain Commendatory Lay cardinal Minister Major orders Minor orders Missionary Monsignor Officialis Ostiarius Pastor Assistant pastor Palatinus Personal prelate Preacher Prefect Presbyter Elder Priest Principal Protonotary apostolic Reverend Saint Servant of God Blessed Venerable Seminarian Vicar Judicial vicar Vicar general Vicar forane Sub-dean Consecrated and professed titles Abbess Abbot Consecrated virgin Corrector Custos Friar Dean Grand master Hermit Master of novices Monk Novice Nun Postulant Prior Provincial superior Rector Religious Superior general Additional titles Almoner Altar server Archimandrite Archpriest Archdeacon Canon Captain General of the Church Chorbishop Coarb Commissary Apostolic Conclavist Custos Datarius Gonfalonier of the Church Honorary prelate Minor canon Notarius Ostiarius Peritus Postulator Prebendary Precentor Prince-bishop Prince-abbot Prince-primate Prince-provost Promotor Fidei Protopriest Protodeacon Protosyncellus Regionarius Sacristan Sidewalk counselor Usher Associations and organization titles Third orders Oblates Confraternities Pious Unions Grand master Knights Hospitaller Order of the Holy Sepulchre Teutonic Knights Inquisitor Grand Inquisitor Preceptor Catholic Church portal v t e Part of a series on the Canon law of the Catholic Church Ius vigens (current law) 1983 Code of Canon Law Omnium in mentem Magnum principium Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches Ad tuendam fidem Ex corde Ecclesiae Indulgentiarum Doctrina Praedicate evangelium Veritatis gaudium Custom Matrimonial nullity trial reforms of Pope Francis Documents of the Second Vatican Council Christus Dominus Lumen gentium Optatam totius Orientalium ecclesiarum Presbyterorum ordinis Sacrosanctum concilium Precepts of the Church Legal history Jus antiquum (c. 33–1140) Ancient Church Orders Didache The Apostolic Constitutions Canons of the Apostles Collections of ancient canons Collectiones canonum Dionysianae Collectio canonum quadripartita Collectio canonum Quesnelliana Collectio canonum Wigorniensis Gelasian Decree Symmachian forgeries Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals Donation of Constantine Gregorian Reform Lay investiture controversy Dictatus papae Libertas ecclesiae Plenitudo potestatis Jus novum (c. 1140–1563) Corpus Juris Canonici Decretum Gratiani Decretist Canon Episcopi Margaritae Jus commune Decretals of Gregory IX Decretalist Regulæ Juris Extravagantes Liber Septimus Jus novissimum (c. 1563–1918) Council of Trent Benedictus Deus Tametsi Apostolicae Sedis moderationi Jus codicis (1918-present) 1917 Code of Canon Law Ecclesiae Sanctae 1983 Code of Canon Law Other Contractum trinius Papal judge-delegate Right of option Eastern law Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches Eastern Canonical Reforms of Pius XII Nomocanon Eparchy Exarchate Ordinariate for Eastern Catholic faithful Protosyncellus Liturgical law Latin Church General Roman Calendar Ranking of liturgical days in the Roman Rite General Instruction of the Roman Missal Code of Rubrics Sacrosanctum Concilium Mysterii Paschalis Musicam sacram Scripturarum thesaurus Liturgiam authenticam Quattuor abhinc annos Ecclesia Dei Summorum Pontificum Magnum principium Traditionis custodes Red Mass Holy day of obligation Sacramental law Communicatio in sacris Ex opere operato Omnium in mentem Validity and liceity Sacraments Holy Orders Impediment (Catholic canon law) Abstemius Defect of birth Obligation of celibacy Nullity of Sacred Ordination Apostolicae curae Dimissorial letters Episcopal consecrators Approbation (Catholic canon law) Confession Penitential canons Paenitentiale Theodori Seal of the Confessional Internal and external forum Note on the importance of the internal forum and the inviolability of the Sacramental Seal Apostolic Penitentiary Canon penitentiary Complicit absolution Sacramentum Poenitentiae Eucharist Eucharistic discipline Canon 915 Celebret Mass stipend Sacramentals Indulgence Indulgentiarum doctrina Sacred places Altars Major basilica Minor basilica Oratory (chapel) Sacred times Feast days Fast days and abstinence Paenitemini Holy day of obligation Matrimonial law Canonical form (Latin Church) Tametsi Ne Temere Banns of marriage Declaration of Nullity Dignitas connubii Matrimonial Nullity Trial Reforms of Pope Francis Vetitum Defender of the Bond Impediments to Marriage Affinity Clandestinity Impediment of crime Disparity of cult Ligamen Public propriety Matrimonial dispensation Ratum sed non consummatum Sanatio in radice Natural marriage Pauline privilege Petrine privilege Supreme authority, particular churches, and canonical structures Supreme authority of the Church Roman Pontiff Papal conclave College of Bishops Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures College of Cardinals Conference of bishops Synod of Bishops Particular churches Churches sui juris Latin Church Eastern Catholic Churches Local particular churches Appointment of bishops Abbacy nullius Apostolic vicariate Apostolic vicar Apostolic administration Apostolic administrator Diocese/Archdiocese Aeque principaliter Cathedraticum In persona episcopi Diocesan Curia Moderator of the Curia Chancery Deanery Vicar forane Eparchy Eparchal curia Military ordinariate Mission sui juris Personal ordinariate Anglicanorum Coetibus Juridic persons Parish Team of priests in solidum Collegiate church Parish register Lay trusteeism Roman Curia Dicastery Congregation Pontifical council Personal prelature Types of membership of Opus Dei Association of the Christian faithful Vicar general Quinquennial visit ad limina Jurisprudence Canonical coronation Canonically crowned images Computation of time Custom Delegata potestas non potest delegari Derogation Dispensation Taxa Innocentiana Faculty Indult Impediment Donation Interpretation Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts Jurisdiction Peritus Obreption & subreption Obrogation Promulgation Resignation of the Roman Pontiff Sede vacante Simony Vacatio legis Validity and liceity Visitation Apostolic visitor Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law Theology Ecclesiology Treatise on Law Determinatio Temporal goods (property) Benefice Cathedraticum Contract law Mass stipend Stole fee Temporalities Law of persons Person (Catholic canon law) Formal act of defection from the Catholic Church Canonical age Emancipation Exemption Heresy Clerics Secular clergy Regular clergy Obligation of celibacy Clerics and public office Incardination and excardination Laicization (dispensation) Canonical faculties Office Canonical provision Canonical election Juridic and physical persons Jus patronatus Associations of the faithful Consecrated life Canonical documents Acta Apostolicae Sedis Acta Sanctae Sedis Censor librorum Imprimatur Imprimi potest Notary Protonotary apostolic Apostolic constitution Canon Concordat Decree Decretal Encyclical Motu proprio Ordinance Papal brief Papal bull Penitential Positive law Rescript Parish register Ecclesiastical Latin Penal law Canon 1324 Canon 1397 §2 Censure De delictis gravioribus Complicit absolution Crimen sollicitationis Excommunication List of excommunicable offences in the Catholic Church List of people excommunicated by the Catholic Church List of cardinals excommunicated by the Catholic Church Interdict Laicization (penal) Latae sententiae and ferendae sententiae Lifetime of prayer and penance Canonical admonitions Ecclesiastical prison Procedural law Pars statica (tribunals & ministers/parties) Tribunals Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura Tribunal of the Roman Rota Apostolic Penitentiary Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Ministers of Justice Judicial Vicar/Officialis Auditor Parties Defender of the Bond Procurator Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Dignitas connubii (matrimonial causes) Appeal as from an abuse Presumption Penal procedure Vos estis lux mundi Canonization Congregation for the Causes of Saints Maiorem hac dilectionem Advocatus Diaboli Oblatio vitae Positio Beatification and canonization process in 1914 Election of the Roman Pontiff Current law Universi Dominici gregis Papal renunciation Reforms of Pope Benedict XVI Historical Cum proxime Jus exclusivae Papal appointment Aeterni Patris Filius Romano Pontifici eligendo Ingravescentem aetatem Ubi periculum Quia propter Legal practice and scholarship List of legal abbreviations Academic degrees Licentiate of Canon Law Doctor of Canon Law Doctor of both laws Journals and Professional Societies Canon Law Society of America The Jurist Faculties of canon law Catholic University of America School of Canon Law Canonists Medieval Gratian Hostiensis Jean Lemoine Raymond of Peñafort Rufinus Johannes Teutonicus Geoffrey of Trani Burchard of Worms Brocard Modern & Contemporary Eugenio Corecco John D. Faris Pietro Gasparri Ladislas Orsy Edward N. Peters Law of consecrated life Solemn vow Exclaustration Manifestation of Conscience Canonical erection of a house of religious Pontifical right Diocesan right Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Institute of consecrated life Religious institute Congregation Order Monasticism Canons regular Mendicant orders Clerics regular Secular institute Cum Sanctissimus Primo Feliciter Provida Mater Ecclesia Society of apostolic life Decretum laudis Catholic Church portal Law portal v t e In [canon law](/source/Canon_law_(Catholic_Church)), the word or its Latin original ****officialis**** is used absolutely as the legal title of a diocesan bishop's [judicial vicar](/source/Judicial_vicar) who shares the bishop's [ordinary](/source/Ordinary_(Catholic_Church)) judicial power over the [diocese](/source/Diocese) and presides over the diocesan [ecclesiastical court](/source/Ecclesiastical_court). The [1983 *Code of Canon Law*](/source/1983_Code_of_Canon_Law) gives precedence to the title judicial vicar, rather than that of *officialis* (canon 1420). The *[Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches](/source/Code_of_Canons_of_the_Eastern_Churches)* uses only the title judicial vicar (canon 191). In German, the related noun **Offizialat** was also used for an official bureau in a diocese that did much of its administration, comprising the [vicariate-general](/source/Vicar_general), an adjoined secretariat, a registry office and a chancery. In Catholicism, the vicar-general was originally called the "official" (**officialis**).[3] The title of **official principal**, together with that of vicar-general, has in Anglicanism been merged in that of [diocesan chancellor](/source/Diocesan_chancellor) of a diocese.[4] ### Sports In [sports](/source/Sports), the term official is used to describe a person enforcing playing [rules](/source/Regulation_of_sport) in the capacity of an [assistant referee](/source/Assistant_referee_(association_football)), [referee](/source/Referee) and [umpire](/source/Umpire); also specified by the discipline, e.g. [American football official](/source/American_football_official), [ice hockey official](/source/Ice_hockey_official). An official competition is created or recognized as valid by the competent body, is agreed to or arranged by people in positions of authority.[5] It is synonymous, among others, with approved, certified, recognized, endorsed, and legitimate.[6] ### Max Weber on bureaucratic officials This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) [Max Weber](/source/Max_Weber) gave as definition of a [bureaucratic](/source/Bureaucratic) official: - they are personally free and appointed to their position on the basis of conduct - he exercises the authority delegated to them in accordance with impersonal rules, and their loyalty is enlisted on behalf of the faithful execution of their official duties - their appointment and job placement are dependent upon their technical qualifications - their administrative work is a full-time occupation - their work is rewarded by a regular salary and prospects of advancement in a lifetime career. An official must exercise their judgment and their skills, but their duty is to place these at the service of a higher authority; ultimately they are responsible only for the impartial execution of assigned tasks and must sacrifice their personal judgment if it runs counter to their official duties. ## Adjective As an [adjective](/source/Adjective), "official" often, but not always, means pertaining to the government, as state employee or having state recognition, or analogous to governance or to a formal (especially legally regulated) proceeding as opposed to informal business. In summary, that has authenticity emanates from an authority. Some examples: - An *official holiday* is a [public holiday](/source/Public_holiday), having national (or regional) recognition. - An [official language](/source/Official_language) is a language recognised by a government, for its own use in administration, or for delivering services to its citizens (for example, on [signposts](/source/Signpost)). - An *official [spokesperson](/source/Spokesperson)* is an individual empowered to speak for the government, or some part of it such as a [ministry](/source/Ministry_(government_department)), on a range of issues and on the record for the [media](/source/Mass_media). - An *official statement* is an issued by an organisation as an expression of its corporate position or opinion;[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] an *official apology* is an apology similarly issued by an organisation (as opposed to an apology by an individual).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - *Official [policy](/source/Policy)* is policy publicly acknowledged and defended by an organisation.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In these cases *unofficial* is an antonym, and variously may mean informal, unrecognised, personal or unacknowledged. - An *official strike* is a [strike](/source/Strike_action) organised and recognised by a [labour union](/source/Labour_union), as opposed to an *unofficial strike* at grassroots level. - An *official school* is a [school](/source/School) administered by the government or by a local authority, as opposite to a [private school](/source/Private_school) or [religious school](/source/Parochial_school).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - An *[official history](/source/Official_history)*, for example of an institution or business, or particularly of a [war](/source/War) or [military unit](/source/Military_unit), is a history written as a commission, with the assumption of co-operation with access to records and archives; but without necessarily full [editorial independence](/source/Editorial_independence).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - An *[official biography](/source/Official_biography)* is usually on the same lines, written with access to private papers and the support of the family of the subject.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## See also - [Canonical](/source/Canonical) - [Politician](/source/Politician) - [Term of office](/source/Term_of_office) - [Title](/source/Title) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *Casemine*, [Defining 'Person Acting in an Official Capacity' under Section 134 CJA: TRA v. United Kingdom \[2019](https://www.casemine.com/commentary/uk/defining-'person-acting-in-an-official-capacity'-under-section-134-cja:-tra-v.-united-kingdom-2019-uksc-51/view) UKSC 51], published 14 November 2019, accessed on 4 November 2025 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:1_2-0)** ["Official vs. Officially - What's the difference?"](https://www.askdifference.com/official-vs-officially/). Ask Difference. 25 November 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221006224633/https://www.askdifference.com/official-vs-officially/) from the original on 6 October 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** van Hove, Alphonse (1913). ["Diocese"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Diocese). In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). ["Official"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Official). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_5-0)** ["official, adjective"](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/official). Cambridge Dictionary. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221123223009/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/official) from the original on 23 November 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_6-0)** ["Synonyms for official"](https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/official). Thesaurus.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220607175915/https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/official) from the original on 7 June 2022. ## Further reading Look up ***[official](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/official)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. - ["Office"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Office). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 16. - ["official - Search"](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=official&searchmode=none). *Online Etymology Dictionary*. Retrieved 25 October 2018. Authority control databases: National Czech Republic 2 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Official](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.