office

noun

ˈä-fəs How to pronounce office (audio)
Definition of officenext
1
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization the company's main office is in Atlanta

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in duty
something one must do because of prior agreement one of the chief offices of a friend is to be there in someone's hour of need

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word office distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of office are duty, function, and province. While all these words mean "the acts or operations expected of a person or thing," office is typically applied to the function or service associated with a trade or profession or a special relationship to others.

they exercise the offices of the judge, the priest, the counsellor — W. E. Gladstone

In what contexts can duty take the place of office?

While the synonyms duty and office are close in meaning, duty applies to a task or responsibility imposed by one's occupation, rank, status, or calling.

it is the judicial duty of the court, to examine the whole case — R. B. Taney

When is it sensible to use function instead of office?

While in some cases nearly identical to office, function implies a definite end or purpose or a particular kind of work.

the function of language is two-fold: to communicate emotion and to give information — Aldous Huxley

When could province be used to replace office?

The meanings of province and office largely overlap; however, province applies to a function, office, or duty that naturally or logically falls to one.

I felt it was not my province to inquire — Anne Brontë

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 office About 29 million doses had been administered to adults in the 2024-25 season in retail pharmacies and doctors' offices through Feb. 8, based on federal data. —Stephanie Armour | Kff Health News, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2025 Today, participating agencies include the Florida Highway Patrol, sheriff’s offices in Miami-Dade, Monroe and Hillsborough counties and local police departments in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Key West. —Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025 The task force consists of the Nashville FBI office and Knoxville Police Department. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2025 In parks, office buildings and schoolyards, groups of people join together throughout the day in a three-minute, 13-move calisthenic routine — no equipment required. —Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for office
Recent Examples of Synonyms for office
  1. department
  2. duty
  3. agency
  4. responsibility
  5. bureau
  6. obligation
  7. desk
  8. need
Noun
  • People can also get hantavirus from a mouse bite, but this is rare, the New Mexico health department said.
    — Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The suspect’s name hasn’t been released, but Jennings said the department would be sharing the individual’s name.
    — Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of department
Noun
  • The fresh round of duties on Chinese goods doubled an initial set of tariffs placed on China last month.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The constant grind of teaching, research and administrative duties can take a toll.
    — Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of duty
Noun
  • This week’s back-to-back moon landings are part of NASA’s commercial lunar delivery program meant to get the space agency’s experiments to the gray, dusty surface and jump-start business.
    — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The late Fleetwood Mac keyboardist and vocalist — who died in November 2022 at age 79 — purchased the home in the Belgravia neighborhood of London in 2015, according to a press release from the listing agency, Beauchamp Estates.
    — Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of agency
Noun
  • The sanctions threat came as Trump faces criticism for increasing pressure on Ukraine to reach a deal while playing down or even denying Russia’s responsibility for starting the war with its invasion three years ago.
    — Aamer Madhani and Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
  • After Congress passed the No Surprises Act in 2020, the office assumed additional responsibility for setting up and administering the complex process for protecting patients from surprise bills.
    — Noam N. Levey, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • Doe said the plan from CFPB leaders and DOGE was to cut the bureau’s workforce in three phases.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Top Trump advisor Elon Musk, who has vowed to destroy the bureau through his Department of Government Efficiency, was invited to the forum but is not expected to attend.
    — Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of bureau
Noun
  • Robert Newton, a Columbia oceanographer, said the grant cancellations were based on a falsehood that Columbia had abandoned its obligations to its Jewish students.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The person literally has no specific duties or obligations outlined in the state constitution other than remaining alive.
    — Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • In our business, doing market studies for BTR developers and investors, the flow of deals coming across our desks has increased compared with last year, when BTR deals were more challenged.
    — Brad Hunter, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Like Nila—a budding photographer who paints a quote from Goethe above her desk—these kids are sensitive and artsy, with a proud distrust of mainstream German society.
    — Anahid Nersessian, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of desk
Noun
  • Moreover, to succeed, any long-term plan for the reconstruction of Gaza will need to prioritize the needs and perspectives of Palestinians themselves.
    — Lesley Joseph, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Katie has grown up lonely, fending for herself while her parents tend to the urgent needs of her disabled sister.
    — Judy Berman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of need

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Cite this Entry

“Office.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/office. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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