Standard Lemma guide

officiate

noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /əˈfiʃ.i.eɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 F IH1 SH IY0 EY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A person appointed to office, an official.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To perform the functions of some office.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • She officiated as registrar at the wedding.
  • She officiated the wedding as registrar.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To serve as umpire or referee.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports

Examples

  • This is the second time he has officiated at a cup-final.
  • He's never officiated a cup-final before.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His wife officiated as his private secretary

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: function

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: serve

5

verb

Meaning 5

act in an official capacity in a ceremony or religious ritual, such as a wedding

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Who officiated at your wedding?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: perform

Narrower terms: marry, wed, tie, splice

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin officiātus, perfect participle of Late Latin officior (“to perform a function”) and of Medieval Latin officiō (“to officiate, say mass (9th cent.); to serve a church (13th cent.); to serve (early 13th c., 14th in British sources); to discharge an office (14th c.)”), from Latin officium (“official duty, service”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). The noun is derived from Medieval Latin officiātus (“monk in charge of a monastic office, official (start of 12th c., 14th in British sources)”), substantivized from the participle, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: изпълнявам задължения (izpǎlnjavam zadǎlženija) — to perform the functions of some office
  • Finnish: toimittaa — to perform the functions of some office
  • German: amtieren — to perform the functions of some office
  • Ido: oficiar — to perform the functions of some office
  • Polish: przewodniczyć — to perform the functions of some office
  • Polish: pełnić obowiązki — to perform the functions of some office
  • Russian: исполнять обязанности (ispolnjatʹ objazannosti) — to perform the functions of some office
  • Spanish: oficiar — to perform the functions of some office
  • Bulgarian: съдия съм (sǎdija sǎm) — to serve as umpire or referee
  • Polish: sędziować — to serve as umpire or referee
  • Swedish: döma — to serve as umpire or referee