officiate

of·fi·ci·ate  (-fsh-t)

v. of·fi·ci·at·ed, of·fi·ci·at·ing, of·fi·ci·ates

v.intr.

1. To perform the duties and functions of an office or a position of authority.

2. To serve as an officiant.

3. Sports To serve as a referee or umpire.

v.tr. Usage Problem

1. To perform from a position of authority (an official duty or function).

2. To serve as an officiant at (a ceremony): officiated the wedding ceremony.

3. To serve as a referee or umpire at (a game): officiated the hockey game.

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[Medieval Latin officire, officit-, to conduct, from Latin officium, service, duty; see office.]

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of·fici·ation n.

of·fici·ator n.

Usage Note: Officiate has long seen use as an intransitive verb, but it has recently developed a transitive use. A vast majority of the Usage Panel (91 percent) approves of the intransitive use of officiate, as in the sentence The wedding was held in the garden, a minister and priest officiating. The Panel views transitive uses much less favorably. The use of officiate in sporting contexts, as in the sentence He officiated National Hockey League games for 15 years is approved by only 38 percent of the Panel. This usage may be unremarkable when appearing on the sports page, but it should be avoided in general writing. Support for this usage in more traditional contexts, such as weddings, plummets further. Only 22 percent of the Panel approves of the sentence A minister officiated the wedding, which was held in a garden.

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officiate

Verb

[-ating, -ated]

1. to perform the duties of an office; act in an official capacity: the referee will officiate at the match

2. to conduct a religious or other ceremony: the priest officiated at the wedding

officiation n
officiator n

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	officiate - act in an official capacity in a ceremony or religious ritual, such as a wedding; "Who officiated at your wedding?" perform - perform a function; "Who will perform the wedding?" marry, splice, wed, tie - perform a marriage ceremony; "The minister married us on Saturday"; "We were wed the following week"; "The couple got spliced on Hawaii"
	2.	officiate - perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function; "His wife officiated as his private secretary" function serve - do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function; "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms"

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officiate

verb 1. preside, conduct, celebrate

verb 2. superintend, supervise, be in charge, run, control, serve, manage, direct, handle, chair, look after, overlook, oversee, preside, take charge, adjudicate, emcee (informal)

Translations

officiate [əˈfɪʃɪeɪt] vi (REL) → oficiar;

to officiate as Mayor → ejercer las funciones de alcalde;

to officiate at a marriage → celebrar una boda

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officiate [əˈfɪʃɪeɪt] vi (Rel) → officier;

to officiate as Mayor → exercer les fonctions de maire;

to officiate at a marriage → célébrer un mariage

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officiate [əˈfɪʃɪeɪt] vi → amtieren;

to officiate at a marriage → eine Trauung vornehmen

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officiate [əˈfɪʃɪeɪt] vi (REL) → ufficiare;

to officiate as Mayor → esplicare le funzioni di sindaco;

to officiate at a marriage → celebrare un matrimonio