officious
/əˈfɪʃəs
/adjective
1Assertive of authority in a domineering way, especially with regard to trivial matters: the security people were very officious...
- The officious official declared authoritatively: ‘It's already been decided that whether or not you have a ticket, you are not welcome.’
- What we really need there is officious immigration authorities who are willing to say ‘Nope, from now on you're Tina; trust me on this one.’
- Hospitals could be pointlessly officious on such matters as visiting rights for parents.
1.1Intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering: an officious bystander...
- I believe that if an officious bystander in 1984 had suggested that, all parties would have denied that that was the case.
- And it would be essential if, but only if, the material that was being filmed was material of a kind that the inevitable officious bystander would say should not be filmed without consent.
- If the officious bystander had asked them whether they had intended to leave out the conditions this time, both must, as honest men, have said, ‘of course not’.
Synonyms
self-important, bumptious, self-assertive, overbearing, overzealous, dictatorial, bossy, domineering, interfering, intrusive, meddlesome, meddling, importunate, forward, opinionated
informal pushy
archaic pragmatic, intermeddling
rare obtrusive, busy
Derivatives
officiously
/ adverb ...- There was an understanding as to what the CIA's position was, and it would no doubt have been considered gross insubordination if the CIA officiously tried to raise the issue again.
- That was true of France, and might have been true of Germany had it been less officiously policed.
- ‘I've just been talking to the Head of Accounting,’ he says officiously, ‘and this man here is to audit all equipment with any query against it.’
officiousness
/ noun ...- From the numerous calls and contacts I have had, there are many other victims of mistaken intransigence and officiousness involving private security firms.
- Yet, the student organisations sought to give it an air of officiousness by claiming that the decision to withdraw the stir would be taken at their executive committee meetings.
- For those who have experienced officialdom, and for that matter officiousness, there are levels of irony in that poster.
Origin
Late 15th century: from Latin officiosus 'obliging', from officium (see office). The original sense was 'performing its function, efficacious', whence 'ready to help or please' (mid 16th century), later becoming depreciatory (late 16th century).