officiate
verb
of·fi·ci·ate
ə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt 
officiated; officiating
1
: to perform a ceremony, function, or duty
officiate at a wedding
2
: to act in an official capacity : act as an official (as at a sports contest)
1
: to carry out (an official duty or function)
2
: to serve as a leader or celebrant of (a ceremony)
3
: to administer the rules of (a game or sport) especially as a referee or umpire
Examples of officiate in a Sentence
The bishop officiated the memorial Mass.
Two referees officiated the hockey game.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to Harper’s Bazaar, Diana officiated the wedding as Leif crawled around and played at the altar, stealing the show from the groom and pregnant bride.
—
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026
Or the way the game was officiated?
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 31 Dec. 2025
The ballpark also hosts Monster Jam, a monster truck series officiated by the United States Hot Rod Association, annually in February.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
While those staples decide games in this era, too, the game is officiated much differently now.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for officiate
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Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026
Or the way the game was officiated?
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 31 Dec. 2025
The ballpark also hosts Monster Jam, a monster truck series officiated by the United States Hot Rod Association, annually in February.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
While those staples decide games in this era, too, the game is officiated much differently now.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for officiate
Cite this Entry
“Officiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/officiate. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
officiate
verb
of·fi·ci·ate
ə-ˈfish-ē-ˌāt
officiated; officiating
1
: to perform a ceremony
officiate at a wedding
2
: to act as an officer
officiated at the annual meeting
3
: to enforce the rules of (a game or sport)
officiate a soccer match
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