# officer

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɒf.ɪ.sə/ · frequency rank #995

## Definitions
1. One who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization, especially in military, police or government organizations.
2. A respectful term of address for an officer, especially a police officer.
3. One who holds a public office.
4. An agent or servant imparted with the ability, to some degree, to act on initiative.
5. A commissioned officer.

## Etymology
From Middle English officer, from Anglo-Norman officer, officier, from Old French officer, Late Latin officiarius (“official”), from Latin officium (“office”) + -ārius (“-er”). By surface analysis, office + -er.

## Easily confused with
- **offices** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/officer-vs-offices)
- **officers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/officer-vs-officers)
- **offer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/offer-vs-officer)
- **office** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/office-vs-officer)

## Common misspellings (8)
`foficer`, `offcier`, `officcer`, `officerr`, `officre`, `offiecr`, `oficer`, `ofifcer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/officer