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 Authorities learned Kreuzer had previously been arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, domestic violence and leading law enforcement officers on a vehicle pursuit. — Daniel Hunt august 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 As one officer stood guard, five others pinned Hoyos-Munoz down, with one officer placing his knee on the man’s shoulder blades. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 Ray waived extradition to Arkansas, and Trumann officers took custody of him in Tennessee on Friday, the post says. — Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2026 The family of the man who died has been informed and supported by specialist officers, according to Sussex Police. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for officer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for officer
  1. policeman
  2. official
  3. cop
  4. administrator
  5. constable
Noun
  • Thaksin Shinawatra, the larger-than-life former policeman and telecom billionaire, built up enormous power as prime minister in the early 2000s, incurring the disdain of royalists.
    — Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026
  • You’ll be attacked in the street for that, the policeman appeared to be telling him.
    — Ledio Cakaj, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of policeman
Noun
  • His son Jack, who had attended the event in California, was instrumental in making these mazes happen, Universal officials have said.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Chinese officials said 558 people were missing after a mudslide at a land crossing in Tibet’s Gyirong county, including 260 foreign nationals.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of official
Noun
  • Bernadette explains the racial nuances the Guardians might not know as newcomers to Earth, echoing the landmark 1971 Green Lantern/Green Arrow comic series, which attempts to bring the space cops down to Earth by exposing them to racial strife.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In the years since Shakur's murder, what exactly happened in that hail of bullets -- and who pulled the trigger -- was obscured by a lack of physical evidence, feuding cops and the gangland code of silence.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cop
Noun
  • Worse, the su binary—the code that provides the command-line interface allowing users with low-level system rights to temporarily gain administrator-level access—is set to grant root without any authentication.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Three months ago, Jimmy Morales was one of the most powerful administrators in local government, serving as a top deputy to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of administrator
Noun
  • Jenna Ziviani, a constable at the police station, helped deliver Lyla while receiving guidance from an ambulance officer on the phone.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Thompson alerted a town administrator and special constable named Sherise Fountain, who went to investigate.
    — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of constable

Phrases Containing officer

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officer
officers
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Cite this Entry

“Officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/officer. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on officer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about officer

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