any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
"an officer is responsible for the lives of his men"
someone who is appointed or elected to an office and who holds a position of trust
"he is an officer of the court"
"the club elected its officers for the coming year"
a person authorized to serve in a position of authority on a vessel
"he is the officer in charge of the ship's engines"
One who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization, especially in military, police or government organizations.
"The new officer addressed the junior staff during the morning briefing to outline their upcoming deployment schedule."
In plain English: An officer is a person who has official authority to enforce laws or manage an organization.
"The police officer stopped him for speeding."
Usage: Use "officer" to refer specifically to a person holding a command or supervisory role within an organization like the police force, military, or fire department. Do not use it as a generic term for any employee; instead, reserve it for those with official authority over others.
direct or command as an officer
"The senior sergeant stepped forward to officer the chaotic assembly line, ensuring every worker followed safety protocols."
To supply with officers.
"The new commander's primary duty was to officer every platoon in the regiment before deployment."
In plain English: To officer something means to give it an official status or make it formal.
"The police officer ordered him to stop and get out of the car."
Usage: The word "officer" is almost exclusively used as a noun to describe a person in authority or a police agent. It should not be used as a verb to mean supplying someone with officers, as there is no common everyday usage for this action.
A surname.
"My neighbor Officer Smith helped me carry my groceries up the stairs."
The word "officer" entered English via Middle English and Anglo-Norman as a borrowing from the Old French term officier, which originally meant an official person connected with an office. Its ultimate roots lie in Latin, where it was formed by combining officium (office) with the suffix -ārius to denote someone who holds or manages that position.