official

Everyday

1. Official means approved by people in charge, like a government, school or organisation. tree →
2. Official also means done as part of a job or in a formal way. tree →
3. An official is a person with an important job in an organisation, like a referee or a government worker. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, official documents include passports and birth certificates; an official website or app comes from the real organisation. In online safety, children check whether information or a message is official or fake. In sports, officials such as referees and umpires enforce the rules. Official languages are the languages a country uses for law and government. Phrases: official language, official website, make it official, school official, officially.

Examples

• English is an official language of Canada, along with French. tree →
• The results are now official. tree →
• Get information from the official website. tree →
• The officials checked the race times. tree →
• The prime minister made an official visit to Ireland. tree →
• It's official: we're getting a puppy! tree →
• Ask an official at the station for help. tree →
• Ireland has two official languages, Irish and English. tree →
• The Sultan's officials returned to the ship and showed the royal order to the captain. tree →

Note

Do not confuse with «officer» (police officer) or «office» (a workplace). Adverb: officially. Unofficial = not approved.