WordGarden.ioofficially
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /əfˈɪʃəlˌi/
US
- /əˈfɪʃəli/
Meanings
Adverb
by authority or in an officially recognized way
used to say something now definitely counts as true or real
Beyond the definition
To do something "officially" means it is done according to the rules, with proper approval, or in a way that an authority accepts. It is more than just happening; it is recognized as real or valid. Think of a wedding: two people might be deeply in love and think of themselves as married long before they do anything "officially." But until they get a license and have a ceremony recognized by the state, it is not official.
"Officially" can also mean "in a formal or public way." A company might officially announce a new product with a press release, or a sports team might officially retire a player's jersey number as a tribute to their career. It adds weight and shows that an action or statement has real standing.
The word "officially" indicates that something is done according to established rules, procedures, or by someone with the authority to do so. It implies formality, recognition, and often public acknowledgment. For example: "The results were officially certified by the election board," meaning they were verified as accurate through a proper process.
"Officially" can be used in several ways. It can describe an action taken by an authority—such as "The government officially declared a state of emergency"—or it can describe something that is now recognized as legitimate, like "She is officially the new CEO."
Sometimes, "officially" simply emphasizes that something is happening in a formal or public manner. "The band officially released their first album" means they made it available to the public through established channels. This is different from just playing songs at local gigs.
So, whether it is confirming results, declaring emergencies, or launching products, "officially" adds a layer of formality and recognition that goes beyond simply doing something—it is about making that action acknowledged and legitimate within a system.
Examples
- 1
Opening date
The museum officially opens on Monday.
- 2
Public announcement
The results will be officially announced tomorrow.
- 3
Legal registration
Their marriage was officially registered last week.
- 4
Formal recognition
The city is officially recognized as a World Heritage Site.
- Patternbe officially recognized as + status/role
be formally accepted as that status or role
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Workplace status
He works there, but he is not officially on the staff.
- Phrasenot officially
true in practice, but not formally recorded or approved
- 6
Formal version
Officially, the meeting ended at six, but people kept talking for another hour.
- Usage
Officially, ... often contrasts the formal version with what really happened
- 7
Sports elimination
The team is officially out of the tournament after losing its final game.
- 8
Informal emphasis
I am officially done with this project.
- Usage
officially can be used informally to mean "now definitely"
See also
Similar
- formally
- on the record
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- officially announced
- officially recognized
- officially confirmed
- officially declared
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- officiallyadverb