office

[ aw-fis, of-is ]

noun

1. a room, set of rooms, or building where the business of a commercial or industrial organization or of a professional person is conducted:

   the main office of an insurance company; a doctor's office.

2. a room assigned to a specific person or a group of persons in a commercial or industrial organization:

   Her office is next to mine.

3. a business or professional organization:

   He went to work in an architect's office.

4. the staff or designated part of a staff at a commercial or industrial organization:

   The whole office was at his wedding.

5. a position of duty, trust, or authority, especially in the government, a corporation, a society, or the like:

   She was elected twice to the office of president.

   Synonyms: situation, berth, station, post

6. employment or position as an official:

   to seek office.

7. the duty, function, or part of a particular person or agency:

   to act in the office of adviser.

   Synonyms: trust, charge, responsibility

8. (initial capital letter) an operating agency or division of certain departments of the U.S. Government:

   Office of Community Services.

9. (initial capital letter) British. a major administrative unit or department of the national government:

   the Foreign Office.

10. Slang. hint, signal, or warning; high sign.
11. Often offices. something, whether good or bad, done or said for or to another:

    He obtained a position through the offices of a friend.

12. Ecclesiastical.
    1. the prescribed order or form for a service of the church or for devotional use.
    2. the services so prescribed.
    3. Also called divine office. the prayers, readings from Scripture, and psalms that must be recited every day by all who are in major orders.
    4. a ceremony or rite, especially for the dead.
13. a service or task to be performed; assignment; chore:

    little domestic offices.

    Synonyms: duty, work

14. offices, Chiefly British.
    1. the parts of a house, as the kitchen, pantry, or laundry, devoted mainly to household work.
    2. the stables, barns, cowhouses, etc., of a farm.
15. Older Slang. privy.

office

/ ˈɒfɪs /

noun

1. 1. a room or set of rooms in which business, professional duties, clerical work, etc, are carried out
   2. ( as modifier )

      an office boy

      office furniture

2. often plural the building or buildings in which the work of an organization, such as a business or government department, is carried out
3. a commercial or professional business

   the architect's office approved the plans

4. the group of persons working in an office

   it was a happy office until she came

5. capital when part of a name (in Britain) a department of the national government

   the Home Office

6. capital when part of a name in the US
   1. a governmental agency, esp of the Federal government
   2. a subdivision of such an agency or of a department

      Office of Science and Technology

7. 1. a position of trust, responsibility, or duty, esp in a government or organization

      the office of president

      to seek office

   2. ( in combination )

      an office-holder

8. duty or function

   the office of an administrator

9. often plural a minor task or service

   domestic offices

10. often plural an action performed for another, usually a beneficial action

    through his good offices

11. a place where tickets, information, etc, can be obtained

    a ticket office

12. Christianity
    1. often plural a ceremony or service, prescribed by ecclesiastical authorities, esp one for the dead
    2. the order or form of these
    3. RC Church the official daily service
    4. short for divine office
13. plural the parts of a house or estate where work is done, goods are stored, etc
14. euphemistic.
    usually plural a lavatory (esp in the phrase usual offices )
15. in office
    in office (of a government) in power
16. out of office
    out of office (of a government) out of power
17. the office slang.
    the office a hint or signal

Other Words From

• office·less adjective
• outoffice noun
• sub·office noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of office¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin officium “service, duty, ceremony,” presumably contraction of opificium, from opi- (combining form akin to opus opus ) + -fic- (combining form of facere “to do, make”) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of office¹

C13: via Old French from Latin officium service, duty, from opus work, service + facere to do

Idioms and Phrases

see box office ; front office ; land-office business ; take office .

Synonym Study

See appointment.

Example Sentences

By 2030, Google plans to precisely match every electron of electricity flowing into its offices and data centers with one produced from a renewable source.

From Quartz

If your state offers the option to drop your ballot in a dropbox at the election office, do it.

From Popular-Science

Signatures change over time, so if you’re concerned the one on file could be out of date, ask your local election office how to update it.

From ProPublica

I have an incredible amount of respect for both the speaker and the office she holds.

From Washington Post

They have not won the state's sole seat in the House of Representatives since 2008, they have not won a Senate election since 1994, and they have been locked out of the governor's office since 1988.

From Washington Post

How do you feel about Archer and the gang abandoning the cartel and returning to the office?

From The Daily Beast

Two witnesses outside the Charlie Hebdo office building quoted the Kouachi brothers claiming they were members of al Qaeda.

From The Daily Beast

Who among Scalise's constituents could possibly care if he supported naming a post office for a black judge who died in 1988?

From The Daily Beast

Granted, James is in an office in the Pentagon, and not on the front lines.

From The Daily Beast

In contrast, Boehner's leadership team filed into his ceremonial office and greeted the teary newly-elected Speaker with hugs.

From The Daily Beast

It was with a feeling of relief on both sides that the arrival of Mr. Haggard, of the Home Office, was announced.

From Project Gutenberg

On a small scale map, in an office, you may make mole-hills of mountains; on the ground there's no escaping from its features.

From Project Gutenberg

The next morning he came rushing into the office, in a violent state of excitement.

From Project Gutenberg

They ran side by side across the yard to a roofed flight of steps that led to the printing-office.

From Project Gutenberg

On the third day after the declaration of his recall, Ripperda took his official leave, and presented his son in his new office.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agency
• building
• bureau
• center
• department
• facility
• factory
• room
• shop
• store
• suite

More About Office

What is an office?

An office is a room, rooms, or a building where business is conducted, as in I gave my sister a ride to the doctor’s office.

An office is also a designated room where a person does their work, as in Dr. Brown’s office is the second one on the left down the hall. 

Office can more generally refer to an entire business or organization, as in I got a new job at an accountant’s office. 

Office can also refer to a business’s entire staff or a specific part of it, as in The birthday cake was shared with the entire office. 

Finally, office is also a position of authority or the duties of such a position, such as The office of the President of the United States. 

Example: The lawyer spent most of her time at her office in the law firm rather than actually going to court. 

Where does office come from?

The first records of the word office come from around 1200. It ultimately comes from the Latin officium, meaning “service” or “duty,” made from combining opus, meaning “work,” and facere, meaning “to do.” The word office often refers to the place where you work or the duties you are responsible for as part of your work.

Office is a common word that some people are unhappy to hear because it reminds them of their job. Middle management jobs are often referred to as “office jobs” because you usually have your own office or you work in a cubicle in your company’s office.

These jobs in particular are often depicted in popular culture as being especially boring and bureaucratic. The word office has been used in popular works that humorously depict such jobs, like the comedy film Office Space (1999) and the both the British version of the comedy TV series “The Office” (1995) and the American version (2001).

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to office?

• officeless (adjective)
• outoffice (noun)
• suboffice (noun)

What are some synonyms for office?

• agency
• center
• facility
• job
• service

What are some words that share a root or word element with office? 

• official
• office bearer
• office block
• officeholder

What are some words that often get used in discussing office?

• company
• job
• desk
• supplies
• hours

How is office used in real life?

Office is a very common word that is often used to describe a person’s job or workplace.

My office is a mess because I'm building a cocoon of candy wrappers around me. Then I'll sleep for weeks and emerge as a beautiful butterfly! I'm pretty sure this will work.

— 🤐 (@ZipperMouth_) October 27, 2020

if you work in an office with other people and do not wear shoes i cannot trust you

— Sun Destroyer 999 (@bombsfall) October 27, 2020

It’s Halloween dress up day at work. I’ll be in my office dressed like a guy sitting in his office.

— Joe Mayberry (@jgolf1) October 30, 2020

Try using office!

True or False?

The word office can refer to an entire building where a company performs business and to a single room where one specific employee works.