officially

officially — adverb

1. in a formal way that has been approved or done by people who hold power, such as

1.副詞B2
釋義

in a formal way that has been approved or done by people who hold power, such as a government, a school, or a company.

例句

The new library was officially opened by the mayor on Saturday morning.

passive: be officially opened by [authority]

Spain officially recognized the new government two days after the election.

officially recognize + noun

同義詞
  • formally

    very close in meaning; emphasizes ceremony or proper procedure rather than the source's authority

  • publicly

    stresses that the act was visible to everyone, not necessarily that an authority did it

  • legally

    narrower; only when the act has the force of law

反義詞

文法句型

officially + past participle (announced/opened/recognized)

用法筆記

Frequently appears in passive constructions with verbs of declaration (announce, recognize, open, confirm, register). The agent, when named, is usually an institution or person in authority rather than a private individual.

常見錯誤

❌My mum officially said I can stay out late.
✅My mum said I can officially stay out late.
💡'officially' fits formal or institutional acts; for personal permission, native speakers use it jokingly, not as a serious modifier of family speech.

2. according to what has been said in public, even though the truth in private may

2.副詞C1
釋義

according to what has been said in public, even though the truth in private may be different.

例句

Officially, the manager resigned; in fact, the board had asked him to leave.

sentence-initial: 'Officially, …; in fact, …' contrast

Officially, the factory closed for repairs, but workers say it ran out of money.

Officially, … but … (public claim vs. private reality)

同義詞
  • ostensibly

    more formal; same hedging meaning

  • supposedly

    stronger doubt; suggests the claim may be wrong

  • nominally

    in name only, especially of titles or roles

反義詞
  • really

    the contrast partner — what is actually the case

  • actually

    introduces the truth behind the public version

文法句型

Officially, + clause (often contrasted with 'really' / 'in fact')

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense almost always sits at the start of the sentence and signals doubt. A clause beginning 'Officially, …' usually invites a contrast with 'really', 'in fact', or 'but'. If no such contrast follows, the speaker likely means sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌Officially, I love this restaurant.
✅Honestly, I love this restaurant.
💡'officially' as a sentence adverb implies a public statement that may not be true, which makes a sincere personal opinion sound sarcastic.

3. as part of the duties of a job or post that someone holds, rather than as a priv

3.副詞C1
釋義

as part of the duties of a job or post that someone holds, rather than as a private person.

例句

The ambassador was visiting Tokyo officially, not for a private holiday with her family.

officially vs. privately contrast within one sentence

Dr. Wang attended the conference officially, as the head of the public health department.

attend + officially, as + [role]

同義詞
  • formally

    overlaps; 'formally' stresses procedure, 'officially' stresses the role

  • professionally

    broader; covers any work context, not only public duty

反義詞
  • privately

    as a private person, not in one's role

  • personally

    speaking for oneself, not for the institution

文法句型

act / speak / attend + officially

用法筆記

Subject is a person holding a named role; the adverb signals that the action belongs to that role, not to the person's private life. Often paired in the same sentence with 'as the [role]' or contrasted with 'privately' / 'in a personal capacity'.