oficial
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “oficial” mean in English?
official — relating to an authority or public body; formally sanctioned
official — relating to an authority or public body; formally sanctioned (versión oficial, documento oficial)
Example sentences
La versión oficial del gobierno no coincidía con los testimonios recogidos por los periodistas sobre el terreno.
The government's official version did not match the testimonies gathered by journalists in the field.
El catalán es lengua cooficial junto al castellano en Cataluña, lo que le otorga estatus legal en toda la administración autonómica.
Catalan is co-official alongside Castilian in Catalonia, giving it legal status throughout the regional administration.
How to use it
Oficial means 'official' — authorised by a public body or authority; formal and sanctioned. Common collocations: versión oficial, declaración oficial, acto oficial, idioma oficial, documento oficial. Ser: always ser. Note: oficial as a noun means an officer (military or police).
Common mistake
Oficial ≠ formal: formal describes register and convention; oficial describes legal authority and sanction. A formal letter can be unofficial; an official communiqué may be written in plain, direct language.