office

noun

ˈä-fəs How to pronounce office (audio)
Definition of officenext
1
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the company's main office is in Atlanta

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in duty
something one must do because of prior agreement one of the chief offices of a friend is to be there in someone's hour of need

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word office distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of office are duty, function, and province. While all these words mean "the acts or operations expected of a person or thing," 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

In what contexts can duty take the place of office?

While the synonyms duty and office are close in meaning, 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

When is it sensible to use function instead of office?

While in some cases nearly identical to office, 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

When could province be used to replace office?

The meanings of province and office largely overlap; however, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of office Supervisors in her office allowed employees to fill out their own forms. —David W. Brown, New Yorker, 12 June 2025 As Adams receded, with Trump in office, the agenda changed. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 12 June 2025 After more than four months in office, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows most Americans oppose his actions on immigration and deportations. —Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025 The incident came just hours after about 100 anti-ICE protesters gathered in Lower Manhattan at Foley Square, near a large government building that houses federal immigration offices and the city's main immigration court. —Michael Dorgan , Bryan Llenas, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
  1. department
  2. duty
  3. agency
  4. responsibility
  5. bureau
  6. obligation
  7. desk
  8. need
Noun
  • The focus on legal services in the current $42 million grant expands the department's support for housing stability and social services for veterans.
    — Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
  • According to the lawsuit, Sevier, a Kansas City police officer, was working for the department’s traffic unit on Aug. 1, directing traffic for the concert at Manchester Trafficway and Interstate 70.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2025
Definition of department
Noun
  • No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.
    — Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
  • Orlando rested its best offensive weapons after their return from international duty, opting to save them for the second half instead.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
Definition of duty
Noun
  • Protests broke out Friday and Saturday in Paramount and Compton, cities adjacent to Los Angeles, over immigration raids conducted by ICE, during which the agency detained 44 immigrants Friday and 118 immigrants Saturday, the Associated Press reported.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Some local officials have argued the deployment could aggravate an already caustic situation in downtown Los Angeles, and say state and local police agencies can handle the protests themselves.
    — Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 10 June 2025
Definition of agency
Noun
  • Regulatory responsibility is another key consideration.
    — Serge Beck, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The responsibility of luxury is also to show how business can be done in a way that has a positive impact on society, and to inspire others, whether people or other companies.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 10 June 2025
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • Bryan Little, the bureau’s senior director of policy advocacy, said the group has long pressed for immigration reform to deal with long-running labor shortages.
    — Amy Taxin, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
  • If something seems off, contact the credit bureau right away to dispute it.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
Definition of bureau
Noun
  • The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency has declared that Iran is non-compliant with its nuclear obligations in a key vote.
    — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
  • He’s expected to join AS Monaco soon, whether that’s through a loan deal with an obligation or option to buy.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • Indeed, many people use more than one display at their desk to boost their productivity.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, Trump has handed down a deadline to Senate Republican leaders to get the spending bill passed and on his desk before July 4th.
    — Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Definition of desk
Noun
  • Brett Bowman Long before many recognized the need for dignified, cost-effective housing, Brett Bowman envisioned mobile home communities as catalysts for opportunity and stability.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 15 June 2025
  • Though often considered difficult to breed in captivity, this collection of four egg-bearing males acts as a beacon of hope for the future of marine wildlife conservation, ultimately highlighting the need for exemplary zoos and aquariums to support the battle for preserving global biodiversity.
    — Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Definition of need

Browse Nearby Words

offhandedness
office
officeholder
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Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of office for Spanish Speakers

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