Words / C2

uh-FISH-uh-s/əˈfɪʃəs/

Officious means too eager to tell people what to do, in an annoying official way: an officious clerk, officious interference. Bossy is everyday; bureaucratic can be cold without being personally interfering; self-important is close. Strongly unkind as a description. In speech, bossy in a petty official way is the picture. Officious is not official (authorised). The mix-up is common and disastrous in tone: official is neutral-to-formal; officious sneers.

Meaning

Too eager to tell people what to do, in an annoying official way.

Examples

• “An officious clerk blocked the simple request.”
• “An officious clerk blocked the simple request and quoted a rule that did not exist.”
• “Officious emails “just checking you saw my earlier email” are not the same as being official.”

Good to know

Petty, interfering, self-important (disapproving). Everyday: bossy. Contrast: official = authorised (neutral). A classic false friend.

Near in meaning

bossy

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