officiate
verb
of·fi·ci·ate
ə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt 
officiated; officiating
1
: to perform a ceremony, function, or duty
officiate at a wedding
2
: to act in an official capacity : act as an official (as at a sports contest)
1
: to carry out (an official duty or function)
2
: to serve as a leader or celebrant of (a ceremony)
3
: to administer the rules of (a game or sport) especially as a referee or umpire
Examples of officiate in a Sentence
The bishop officiated the memorial Mass.
Two referees officiated the hockey game.
Recent Examples on the Web
This isn’t the first time the Fever have faced disciplinary action over officiating remarks.
—
Tobias Bass, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Speaking to reporters this week, players raised questions about injuries, roster sizes and officiating.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 19 July 2025
The ground breaking ceremony was officiated by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Las Vegas Sands cofounder Miriam Adelson, wife of the late casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
The couple tied the knot in a Christian wedding ceremony in December 2018, officiated by the groom’s father at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, with a Hindu ceremony honoring Priyanka's roots the next day.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for officiate
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Tobias Bass, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Speaking to reporters this week, players raised questions about injuries, roster sizes and officiating.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 19 July 2025
The ground breaking ceremony was officiated by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Las Vegas Sands cofounder Miriam Adelson, wife of the late casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
The couple tied the knot in a Christian wedding ceremony in December 2018, officiated by the groom’s father at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, with a Hindu ceremony honoring Priyanka's roots the next day.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for officiate
Cite this Entry
“Officiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/officiate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
officiate
verb
of·fi·ci·ate
ə-ˈfish-ē-ˌāt
officiated; officiating
1
: to perform a ceremony
officiate at a wedding
2
: to act as an officer
officiated at the annual meeting
3
: to enforce the rules of (a game or sport)
officiate a soccer match
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