functionary

[ fuhngk-shuh-ner-ee ]

noun

, plural func·tion·ar·ies.

1. a person who functions in a specified capacity, especially in government service; an official:

   civil servants, bureaucrats, and other functionaries.

functionary

/ ˈfʌŋkʃənərɪ /

noun

1. a person acting in an official capacity, as for a government; an official

adjective

1. a less common word for functional official

Word History and Origins

Origin of functionary¹

1785–95; function + -ary, modeled on French fonctionnaire

Related Words

• administrator
• agent
• bureaucrat
• civil servant
• commissioner
• director
• executive
• leader
• manager
• minister
• officer
• representative
• secretary