officially
gb/əfˈɪʃəli/ us/əfˈɪʃəli/
B2
Inglês
~ 7700
Aceções
0 aceções
adverb
B2
property
1
According to law or formal rules
In a way that is fixed or decided by law, rules, or an important group, not just in daily practice.
Padrão de uso:
to be officially [past participle/adjective]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use "official" instead of "officially" before verbs or adjectives, for example: *"The school official open"* instead of *"The school is officially open"*. Remember to use the adverb "officially" to modify verbs or adjectives, often after forms of "be".
Sinónimos
formally (Very close in meaning, but can also refer to style or manner; 'officially' focuses more on legal or institutional status.)
|
legally ('Legally' stresses that something is allowed or defined by law, while 'officially' can include decisions by other authorities, not only law.)
Antónimos
unofficially (Describes something that happens in practice or informally, without legal or formal approval.)
Colocações
officially recognized
|officially declared
|officially announced
|officially registered
|officially opened
|officially approved
Temas
government
|law
|work
|business
Exemplos
- The country is officially a republic, with an elected president as head of state.
- He is officially employed by the company, even though he works from home most days.
- The new policy was officially announced at yesterday's press conference.
- Their marriage will be officially registered next week at the city office.
- The museum is officially closed on Mondays.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The school is officially open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- She is now officially a doctor after passing all her exams.
- The park was officially declared a protected area.
- The new shop will be officially opened tomorrow.
- He is officially a member of the team.
adverb
C1
property
2
As stated in records or statements
According to what the government, company, or other official group says or writes is true, even if real life may be different.
Padrão de uso:
Officially, [clause]
Erro comum:
Learners may confuse this sense with "actually" and say *"Actually, the company is based in Paris"* when they want to mean "according to documents". Use "officially" when you refer to what is written in records or said by authorities, and "actually" for the real situation.
Sinónimos
ostensibly (More formal and often suggests stronger doubt about the truth of the stated information.)
|
supposedly (Often informal and can suggest personal doubt; 'officially' is more neutral and linked to documents or authorities.)
Antónimos
actually (Refers to the real situation, which may be different from what is officially stated or recorded.)
Colocações
Officially, however,
|Officially, at least,
|Officially, the government
|Officially, the company
|Officially, the report
Temas
politics
|business
|media
|communication
|law
Exemplos
- Officially, the unemployment rate is falling, but many people still cannot find work.
- Officially, he lives with his parents, although he spends most nights at his girlfriend's place.
- The company is officially based in Dublin, but most of its staff work in London.
- Officially, there were no injuries in the accident, yet several witnesses reported seeing people taken to hospital.
- Officially, the building is a hotel, but it is mostly used as student housing.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Officially, the city has one million people.
- Officially, she works in the London office, but she travels a lot.
- Officially, the hotel is full, but they might still have a room.
- Officially, he is single, but he has a long-term partner.
- Officially, the class starts at nine, but many students come late.
adverb
formal
C1
property
3
In an official role, not privately
As part of someone’s job or public role, not as a private person.
Padrão de uso:
to [speak/act/visit] officially
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes miss the contrast with "personally" or "privately" and may say *"I speak officially"* in everyday situations. This use is normally for people with a public role (e.g. ministers, ambassadors) and formal contexts.
Sinónimos
formally (Similar, but can also describe style or manner; 'officially' here focuses on the person's role or position.)
|
in an official capacity (A longer, more explicit phrase that clearly states the same idea as this sense of 'officially'.)
Antónimos
privately (Emphasizes that someone is speaking or acting as a private person, not in their public role.)
Colocações
speaking officially
|act officially
|visit officially
|travel officially
|attend officially
Temas
government
|work
|diplomacy
|business
Exemplos
- The ambassador stressed that she was not speaking officially, but only giving her personal opinion.
- He visited the region officially as part of a fact-finding mission.
- Journalists were told that the minister was there unofficially and would not make any statements.
- The delegation will travel officially, with all expenses covered by the government.
- She attended the ceremony officially, representing the ministry of education.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- He said he was not speaking officially, just as a friend.
- The president came to the city officially to open the new bridge.
- She visited the country officially as a trade representative.
- The mayor was there officially, so many people wanted to talk to him.
- The team went officially to check the factory.
adverb
informal
B2
property
4
Definitely or clearly, often after change
Used to strongly say that something is now clearly true or finished, often in a joking or dramatic way.
Padrão de uso:
to be officially [over/done/the best/a(n) X]
Erro comum:
Learners may think this sense is always formal because of the word "officially" and may use it in serious documents. In this emphatic use, it is common in speech and informal writing, sometimes humorous. In formal writing, prefer words like "definitely" or "clearly".
Sinónimos
definitely (Very close meaning, but 'officially' here is more playful or dramatic, sometimes joking about giving something a formal status.)
|
truly (Also shows emphasis, but 'officially' adds a sense of final decision or status, even if humorous.)
Antónimos
not really (Used to soften or deny that something is fully or clearly true, the opposite of the emphatic certainty implied by this sense of 'officially'.)
Colocações
officially over
|officially done
|officially the best
|officially a couple
|officially the worst
Temas
daily life
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- After signing the contract, she was officially part of the team.
- It is now officially the coldest winter we have had in years.
- When they posted the news online, their breakup became officially public.
- With this win, they are officially the best team in the league.
- When the clock hit midnight, the party was officially over.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- After today, I am officially on vacation.
- You are officially my best friend for helping me move.
- The holidays are officially over, and work starts again tomorrow.
- With this goal, our team is officially in the final.
- When I got the email, I was officially accepted into the program.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
officially
IPA
GB/əfˈɪʃəli/
US/əfˈɪʃəli/
Sílabas e acento
of - fi - cially (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fi)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: officially
- Plural: officiallies
Família de palavras
Forms
officiallies
noun
Core family
official
adjective B1
Negative and opposite forms
unofficial
adjective B2
unofficially
adverb
Advanced or less common
officiate
verb
Expressões
officially known as
1/əfˈɪʃəli nˈoʊn ˈæz/
fixed phrase
Used before stating a formal name
Used before you say the real legal or full name of something or someone.
Exemplos
- The city, officially known as Ho Chi Minh City, is still called Saigon by many locals.
- The disease, officially known as influenza, is commonly called the flu.
- The party, officially known as the National Reform Movement, won 30% of the vote.
officially open for business
1/əfˈɪʃəli ˈoʊpən fɚ bˈɪznɪs/
fixed phrase
Formally starting operations
Used when a shop, company, or place starts working and is ready for customers or users.
Exemplos
- The new shopping center is officially open for business from today.
- After months of preparation, the restaurant is finally officially open for business.
- The website will be officially open for business on January 1st.
officially recognized as
1/əfˈɪʃəli ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪzd ˈæz/
fixed phrase
Formally accepted as having a status
Used when an authority accepts something or someone as having a certain status or role.
Exemplos
- The group is now officially recognized as a political party.
- Her qualifications are officially recognized as equal to a local degree.
- The language is not officially recognized as a minority language in that country.
officially the best
1/əfˈɪʃəli ðə bˈɛst/
fixed phrase
informal
Playful way to say something is best
Used, often in a fun or joking way, to say that something or someone is the best.
Exemplos
- This is officially the best pizza I have ever eaten.
- You are officially the best roommate for cleaning the whole kitchen.
- That was officially the best concert of my life.