officer

noun

ˈä-fə-sər How to pronounce officer (audio)
Definition of officernext
1
as in policeman
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level if you are ever lost, find the nearest officer and ask for help

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in official
a person who holds a public office an officer of the court

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 officer Diarists and observers, including hymn writer John Newton and militia officers, often treated the event as an omen reflecting the gravity of the Revolution. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 4 July 2026 The series blends crime procedural elements with the spiritual and cultural landscape of the Navajo reservation as the officers investigate brutal murders connected to larger conspiracies. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 The officer immediately reported what happened to the department's Internal Affairs Bureau, the outlets reported. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 Some relief workers are using donkeys and bulldozers to remove solid waste, according to Louise Wateridge, a communications officer for the UN’s children’s agency in the Middle East and North Africa. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for officer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for officer
  1. policeman
  2. official
  3. cop
  4. administrator
  5. constable
Noun
  • My father came from a large family from Corfu and had served as a policeman in Lefkada.
    — Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Yesterday, the Sun asked this question of a wide variety of people – an auxiliary policeman, a protest marcher, a steelworker, a politician, a barber, a bridegroom, a bootblack and others.
    — Jonathan M. Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2026
Definition of policeman
Noun
  • The agreement also didn't lead to market opportunities for the United States in Canada and Mexico in dairy and other sectors as was expected, officials said.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The city said replacement parts have been ordered and officials hope to reopen the pool before the end of July.
    — Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of official
Noun
  • Robert Karroll was shot in his ballistic vest by an 18-year-old gunman who approached the officer’s unmarked vehicle in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, cops said.
    — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • The cops posted outside of the nearby Swarovski and PINK stores are similarly unwilling to entertain my interrogations.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 July 2026
Definition of cop
Noun
  • San Juan High School administrators could not be reached for comment Monday.
    — Reeti Malhotra July 6, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • The ‘College-Enrollment Death Spiral’ and College Athletics The merger of Ursuline and Gannon stems in part from the enrollment challenges that have become a focal point of higher ed administrators across the country.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of administrator
Noun
  • Troopers and Beacon Falls constables responded to the home and detained Drozdowski, state police said.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2026
  • Denise Paul Hatch, a former Center Township constable, is appealing her 2024 felony conviction for official misconduct.
    — Robert Yoon, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Definition of constable

Phrases Containing officer

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officeholders
officer
officers
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Cite this Entry

“Officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/officer. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on officer

Nglish: Translation of officer for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about officer

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