Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of official
"The building was evacuated after officials discovered a gas leak on the fourth floor."
In plain English: Officials are people who have an official job and are responsible for running something important.
"The local officials met with the community to discuss the new park plans."
Usage: Use officials to refer to people who hold public office or have authority in an organization, such as government leaders or game referees. Do not use this term to describe documents or formal rules, which should be called official papers or regulations instead.
Derived from Latin officium meaning "duty" or "service," this term originally referred to those who performed official functions. It entered English via Old French as oficial, denoting a person holding an office of public authority.