From Middle English officer, from Anglo-Norman officer, officier, from Old French officer, Late Latin officiarius, from Latin officium + -ārius.

• (RP) IPA: /ˈɒfɪsə/
  • (weak vowel) IPA: /ˈɒfəsə/
• (America) IPA: /ˈɔfɪsɚ/
  • (weak vowel) IPA: /ˈɔfəsɚ/
• (cot-caught) IPA: /ˈɑfɪsɚ/
  • (weak vowel) IPA: /ˈɑfəsɚ/
• (dialectal, informal) IPA: /ˈɒfsə/

officer (plural officers)

1. One who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization, especially in military, police or government organizations.
2. A respectful term of address for an officer, especially a police officer.
   • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XIX, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC ↗:

     Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.

3. One who holds a public office.
4. An agent or servant imparted with the ability, to some degree, to act on initiative.
5. (colloquial, military) A commissioned officer.

• office
• official
• officiate

• French: fonctionnaire, officier
• German: Funktionär, Funktionärin
• Italian: funzionario
• Portuguese: oficial, comandante, agente
• Russian: слу́жащий
• Spanish: oficial

• Spanish: comisario

• French: fonctionnaire
• German: Beamter, Beamtin
• Portuguese: funcionário público
• Russian: чино́вник

• French: officier, officière
• German: Offizier, Offizierin
• Italian: ufficiale, agente
• Portuguese: oficial, executor, agente
• Russian: офице́р
• Spanish: oficial

officer (officers, present participle officering; simple past and past participle officered)

1. (transitive) To supply with officers.
2. (transitive) To command as or like an officer.
   • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 31, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC ↗:

     Many of our journals are officered by Irish gentlemen, and their gallant brigade does the penning among us, as their ancestors used to transact the fighting in Europe; and engage under many a flag, to be good friends when the battle is over.

• direct
• conduct
• manage

• CO
• NCO

1. Surname.