officiate
verb
of·fi·ci·ate
ə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt 
officiated; officiating
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)
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
Examples of officiate in a Sentence
The bishop officiated the memorial Mass.
Two referees officiated the hockey game.
Recent Examples on the Web
The couple's ceremony was officiated by the bride's aunt and uncle.
—
Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Vance officiated Walsh’s wedding and later lived with Walsh and his wife for a few months.
—ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2025
Then, when Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz renewed their vows in August (officiated by the actress’ billionaire father Nelson Peltz), mum and dad were nowhere in sight.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Much of the controversy surrounds how the play is officiated, with the Eagles’ offensive line often getting a split-second head start on the snap.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for officiate
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Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Vance officiated Walsh’s wedding and later lived with Walsh and his wife for a few months.
—ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2025
Then, when Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz renewed their vows in August (officiated by the actress’ billionaire father Nelson Peltz), mum and dad were nowhere in sight.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Much of the controversy surrounds how the play is officiated, with the Eagles’ offensive line often getting a split-second head start on the snap.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for officiate
Cite this Entry
“Officiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/officiate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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