office

noun of·fice \ˈä-fəs, ˈȯ-\

: a building or room in which people work at desks doing business or professional activities

: a room with a desk where a particular person works

: a building or room where a doctor, lawyer, etc., works and meets with patients or clients

Full Definition of OFFICE

a : a special duty, charge, or position conferred by an exercise of governmental authority and for a public purpose : a position of authority to exercise a public function and to receive whatever emoluments may belong to it

b : a position of responsibility or some degree of executive authority

[Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin officium, from Latin] : a prescribed form or service of worship; specifically capitalized : divine office

: a religious or social ceremonial observance : rite

a : something that one ought to do or must do : an assigned or assumed duty, task, or role

b : the proper or customary action of something : function

c : something done for another : service

: a place where a particular kind of business is transacted or a service is supplied: as

a : a place in which the functions of a public officer are performed

b : the directing headquarters of an enterprise or organization

c : the place in which a professional person conducts business

plural chiefly British : the apartments, attached buildings, or outhouses in which the activities attached to the service of a house are carried on

a : a major administrative unit in some governments <British Foreign Office>

b : a subdivision of some government departments <Patent Office>

See office defined for English-language learners

See office defined for kids

Origin of OFFICE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin officium service, duty, office, from opus work + facere to make, do — more at operate, do

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to OFFICE

Synonyms: agency, arm, branch, bureau, department, desk, division, service

Synonym Discussion of OFFICE

function, office, duty, province mean the acts or operations expected of a person or thing. function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work <the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information — Aldous Huxley>. office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others <they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor — W. E. Gladstone>. duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling <it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case — R. B. Taney>. province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one <I felt it was not my province to inquire — Anne Brontë>.

OFFICE Defined for Kids