Officer — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈä-fə-sər/ of·fi·cer

Meaning & Definition of Officer

Officer (noun)

  1. one charged with police duties —often used as a title
  2. agent
  3. one who holds an office of trust, authority, or command

Officer (verb)

  1. to furnish with officers
  2. to command or direct as an officer

Officer (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level

    "if you are ever lost, find the nearest officer and ask for help"

    similar: bobby (British), bull (slang), constable (chiefly British), cop, copper, flatfoot (slang), fuzz, gendarme, lawman, policeman, police officer, shamus (slang)
    related: patrolman, policewoman, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, inspector, investigator, plainclothesman, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound, marshal, sheriff, trooper, peace officer, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, constabulary, heat (slang), man, police, police force, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator
    near: civilian

  2. a person who holds a public office

    "an officer of the court"

    similar: functionary, officeholder, official, public servant
    related: bureaucrat, administrator, commissioner, director, executive, head, manager, regulator, superintendent, supervisor, chair, chairman, flunky, minion, underling, co-official

Related Entry: Commanding officer (noun)

Commanding officer is a different word from Officer. The synonyms below are for commanding officer, not for officer.

  1. one in official command especially of a military force or base

    "reported directly to the fort's commanding officer"

    similar: captain, commandant, commander, commander in chief
    related: commissioned officer, field officer

Related Entry: Police officer (noun)

Police officer is a different word from Officer. The synonyms below are for police officer, not for officer.

  1. a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level

    "there were police officers directing traffic around the scene of the accident"

    similar: bobby (British), bull (slang), constable (chiefly British), cop, copper, flatfoot (slang), fuzz, gendarme, lawman, officer, policeman, shamus (slang)
    related: patrolman, policewoman, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, inspector, investigator, plainclothesman, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound, marshal, sheriff, trooper, peace officer, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, constabulary, heat (slang), man, police, police force, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator
    near: civilian

Related Entry: Commissioned officer (noun)

Commissioned officer is a different word from Officer. The synonyms below are for commissioned officer, not for officer.

  1. as in field officer

    similar: field officer, captain, commandant, commander, commanding officer

Related Entry: Field officer (noun)

Field officer is a different word from Officer. The synonyms below are for field officer, not for officer.

  1. as in commissioned officer

    similar: commissioned officer, captain, commandant, commander, commanding officer

Related Entry: Peace officer (noun)

Peace officer is a different word from Officer. The synonyms below are for peace officer, not for officer.

  1. as in police officer, man

    similar: bobby (British), bull (slang), constable (chiefly British), cop, copper, flatfoot (slang), fuzz, gendarme, lawman, officer, policeman, police officer, shamus (slang), detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, inspector, investigator, plainclothesman, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound, constabulary, heat (slang), man, police, police force, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, marshal, sheriff, trooper, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, patrolman, policewoman
    opposite: civilian

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Officer

The most common words with a similar meaning to Officer:

Slang: bull, flatfoot, shamus
British: bobby
Chiefly British: constable
cop, copper, fuzz, gendarme, lawman, policeman, police officer, functionary, officeholder, official, public servant

Related Words for Officer

patrolman, policewoman, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, inspector, investigator, plainclothesman, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound, marshal, sheriff, trooper, peace officer, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, constabulary, heat, man, police, police force, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, bureaucrat, administrator

Near Antonyms of Officer

civilian

Word Forms of Officer

Inflections: officered, officering, officers

Origin & Etymology of Officer

Middle English, "servant, agent, holder of a civil or ecclesiastical post," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin officiārius, from Latin officium "duty, office" + -ārius -er:2

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Officer

Words & Phrases Containing Officer

officer of arms, attendance officer, chief petty officer, chief warrant officer, commanding officer, commissioned officer, company officer, executive officer

Frequently Asked Questions about Officer

What does "Officer" mean?

"Officer" means one charged with police duties —often used as a title. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: one charged with police duties —often used as a title. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Officer"?

Other words for "Officer" include bobby, bull, constable, cop, copper, flatfoot, fuzz and gendarme. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Officer" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Officer"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Officer". Common alternatives include bobby, bull, constable, cop, copper, flatfoot, fuzz, gendarme, lawman and policeman.

What is a slang word for "Officer"?

Slang words for "Officer" include bull, flatfoot and shamus.

How do you use "Officer" in a sentence?

Examples of "Officer" in a sentence: "if you are ever lost, find the nearest officer and ask for help"; "an officer of the court".

Is "Officer" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Officer" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Officer" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Officer" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Officer"?

"Officer" is pronounced /ˈä-fə-sər/ and divided into syllables as of·fi·cer.