“Official” vs. “Officious”: What’s the Difference?
Jun 9, 2023
Engram
The difference between “official” and “officious”
- The main difference between official and officious is that official typically signifies authority and approval, while officious is often associated with interfering or being meddlesome.
- While official denotes something formal and recognized, officious often implies that someone is intrusive or trying to be overly helpful.
- Official is a positive and neutral term, while officious has a negative connotation due to its implication of being nosy or annoying.
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What is the definition of “official” and “officious”?
Official
- Official means authorized or approved by a particular authority or governing body.
- It relates to something that is formal, serious, and recognized.
- Examples of official include official documents, official communication, and official announcement.
Officious
- Officious means aggressive or meddlesome in trying to do something that is not wanted or necessary.
- It often involves interfering in other people's business with excessive eagerness or intrusiveness.
- Examples of officious include an officious waiter who wants to choose your meal for you or an officious neighbor who keeps giving unwanted advice.
Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?
“Official” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Official
4,230,000,000 results on the web
Examples
- The official announcement was made by the spokesperson.
- We need to wait until the official report is released.
- The president's official portrait is displayed in the national gallery.
Officious
1,070,000 results on the web
Examples
- She was being too officious, trying to micromanage everything.
- The officious waiter kept interrupting our conversation to refill our glasses.
- His officious manner offended the other guests at the dinner party.
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