NYT Dictionary

OFFICE

/ˈɔ.fɪs/
NounVerbOF-ficeof-fice · 2 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025

Meaning

A ceremonial duty or service, particularly

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English office, from Old French office, from Latin officium (“personal, official, or moral duty; official position; function; ceremony, esp. last rites”), contracted from opificium (“construction: the act of building or the thing built”), from opifex (“doer of work, craftsman”) + -ium (“-y”, forming actions), from op- (“work”) + -i- (connective) + -fex (combining form of faciō (“to do, to make”)). In the religious sense, Displaced native Old English hād. The computing sense is a genericization of various proprietary program suites, such as Microsoft Office.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Divine OfficebreviaryLiturgy of the Hoursliturgy of the hourscanonical hoursdepartmentministrybureauworkplaceworkstead

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

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