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

Relevance
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 The company opened a New York office and studio last year and now employs five staff sourcing across the country, listing and fulfilling product locally. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026 Are government offices open on Presidents Day? —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Feb. 2026 Unless public land supporters in office act to clarify corner crossing in law, access will continue to shrink. —Karlee Provenza, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026 Berkshire and the office of Greg Abel - Buffett’s successor at the company - did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Kraft Heinz’s decision to pause its split. —Reuters wire Service, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026 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 department has helped remove almost 350,000 pounds of trash and more than 920 pesticide containers from grows on public lands over nearly a decade.
    — Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
  • However, the charter amendment would not prevent the city council from creating a new department at its discretion, a city spokesperson said in an email to the Star-Telegram.
    — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of department
Noun
  • First Amendment experts question whether such dismissals violate free speech protections for public employees’ off-duty commentary.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The dead included Hussein Hassan Hussein al-Semieri, a paramedic who was on duty at the time, said the hospital.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of duty
Noun
  • The law names city, county, and other local agencies, as well as federal law enforcement agencies, but notably does not include law enforcement officers employed by the state, creating a distinction that the judge found discriminatory against federal agents.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Aerial footage released by the agency shows a vessel halting shortly after getting struck by the weapon.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of agency
Noun
  • In recent years, as climate change has fueled more intense events, from flooding to wildfires, the federal government has assumed a greater financial responsibility for natural disaster recovery.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Warren's dojo provided a structured environment, teaching students responsibility and restraint alongside martial arts.
    — Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • The bureau previously announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie or the arrest of those involved in her abduction.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The bureau advises gamblers to beware promises of big payouts, tempting ads with no details, sweepstakes-style games, overseas business locations and payment through cryptocurrency.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of bureau
Noun
  • But when a mysterious stranger begins blackmailing Neve, she is forced to compromise every legal, moral and ethical obligation to gain an acquittal — or else risk her dark secrets being exposed.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Earlier this month, Parisian officials conducted a search of facilities connected to Elon Musk’s X as part of an investigation into regulatory obligations.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • Many Walmart locations in Florida have self-service lottery ticket vending machines or sell lottery tickets at the customer service desk.
    — Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 8 Feb. 2026
  • That beat just came from just sitting on a desk.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of desk
Noun
  • In the weeks after the December 14 attack, the government has repeatedly pushed the need for social cohesion.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
  • In this way, as high-functioning digital tools are radically recontextualizing the world of investing, financial dashboards are evolving to meet new needs and answer new problems.
    — William Jones, Ascend Agency, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of need

Browse Nearby Words

offhandedness
office
officeholder
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on office

Nglish: Translation of office for Spanish Speakers

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