officiate

verb

of·​fi·​ci·​ate ə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt 

officiated; officiating

intransitive verb

1

: to perform a ceremony, function, or duty

officiate at a wedding

2

: to act in an official capacity : act as an official (as at a sports contest)

transitive verb

1

: to carry out (an official duty or function)

2

: to serve as a leader or celebrant of (a ceremony)

3

: to administer the rules of (a game or sport) especially as a referee or umpire

officiation

ə-ˌfi-shē-ˈā-shən 

noun

Examples of officiate in a Sentence

The bishop officiated the memorial Mass.

Two referees officiated the hockey game.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jenkins and the Grizzlies were also upset by the way the game was officiated. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024

Paris’s godfather, the celebrated poet Tom Healy, officiated their ceremony. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024

Even the mass can be officiated by a priest and not a nun. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2024

Following a welcome dinner at Nobu in Los Cabos ahead of the wedding, the couple and their guests gathered for the emotional ceremony, which was officiated by Greg and Cooper's fathers. —Erin Clack, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin officiātus, past participle of officiāre "to perform a function, perform priestly duties," going back to Late Latin officiārī "to perform a function," derivative of Latin officium "duty, office"

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

officiate

verb

of·​fi·​ci·​ate ə-ˈfish-ē-ˌāt 

officiated; officiating

1

: to perform a ceremony

officiate at a wedding

2

: to act as an officer

officiated at the annual meeting

3

: to enforce the rules of (a game or sport)

officiate a soccer match