officer

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈɒfɪsə/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈɑfəsər/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: of‧fi‧cer

Noun

Singular officer

Plural officers

1. (countable) An officer is a person in an army who has much authority. A general and a captain are two types of officers.

   A soldier must obey his commanding officer.

2. (countable) An officer is a policeman, often called a "police officer." (Note, "officer" is often better than "policeman" because the officer could be a woman or a man.)

   Officer, can you help me, I've been robbed.

   The thief was taken to jail by the officers.

   He was arrested for hitting an officer.

3. (countable) An officer is someone who holds office (meaning, has authority).

   The judge is an important officer of the court.

   She is the chief executive officer, or CEO, for our company.