“Official” and “officious” may sound alike but have very different meanings. “Official” refers to something authorized or formal, or it can denote a person holding an office. “Officious,” on the other hand, refers to someone who meddles in others’ affairs or offers unwanted help. This lesson will define each term and provide examples to illustrate their proper usage.
Official
Definition:
As an adjective, “official” means something that is authorized, formal, or approved by an authority. As a noun, it refers to a person who holds a position of authority or office.
Examples of use:
Here is an official announcement: schools will be closed on Friday due to the weather.
The official seal on the document confirms that it is legally binding.
The match official always makes the final ruling on disputes between players.
Officious
Definition:
“Officious” is an adjective that describes someone who meddles in other people’s affairs, offering unnecessary or unwanted help, often in an overbearing manner.
Examples of use:
They opposed any officious interference with their personal matters, preferring to handle things on their own.
The officious neighbor constantly tried to give advice on how to maintain the garden, even when it wasn’t asked for.
His officious behavior at the meeting irritated everyone, as he kept interrupting with suggestions no one wanted.
While “official” relates to formal authority or someone holding a position, “officious” refers to someone meddling in the affairs of others without being asked. Understanding the difference between these words will help you use them appropriately in different contexts.
