officer Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
    military officer.
    • an officer is responsible for the lives of his men
  2. noun someone who is appointed or elected to an office and who holds a position of trust
    officeholder.
    • he is an officer of the court
    • the club elected its officers for the coming year
  3. noun a member of a police force
    police officer; policeman.
    • it was an accident, officer
  4. noun a person authorized to serve in a position of authority on a vessel
    ship's officer.
    • he is the officer in charge of the ship's engines
  5. verb direct or command as an officer

WordNet

Of"fi*cer noun
Etymology
F. officier. See Office, and cf. Official, n.
Definitions
  1. One who holds an office; a person lawfully invested with an office, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical; as, a church officer; a police officer; a staff officer. "I am an officer of state." Shak.
  2. (U. S. Mil.) Specifically, a commissioned officer, in distinction from a warrant officer.
Of"fi*cer transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Officered ; present participle & verbal noun Officering
Definitions
  1. To furnish with officers; to appoint officers over. Marshall.
  2. To command as an officer; as, veterans from old regiments officered the recruits.

Webster 1913