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Definition of officialdom

officialdom

/əˈfɪʃ.əl.dəm/
of · fi · cial · dom
Adverb:officially
•
Adjective:official
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officialdom Lexical Profile

officialdom Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Officials considered collectively, especially when regarded as overly bureaucratic, rigid, or self-important.

Example

"The community's proposals for renovating the park were repeatedly delayed by local officialdom."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for officialdom

Word Nuance & Usage

"Officialdom" is almost always used with a mildly disparaging or critical tone to emphasize the inflexibility, pomposity, or excessive rules of administrative authorities.

• Nearby Words

officemate
officer
official
officialdom
officially
officiant
officiate

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century by combining "official" (from Latin officialis, meaning "attendant" or "magistrate") with the Old English suffix "-dom", denoting a domain or collective body.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Officialdom. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/officialdom
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