Definition

The group of people who hold official positions in government or public service, often involved in making decisions and policies.

Example

The new policies were met with resistance from the members of officialdom.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about how officialdom affects our daily lives?

Definitely! It can be so frustrating at times, right?

Yeah, especially when they make rules that seem pointless.

Exactly! Sometimes it feels like they forget about the people.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Officialdom → It is formed from "official" (from Old French *officiel*, meaning relating to an office or authority) and "-dom" (meaning state or condition). The word "officialdom" refers to the state or condition of being an official or the collective body of officials.

Memory Tip

Think of 'official' as relating to authority and '-dom' as a state or condition — together, they describe the collective state of those in authority.

Visually Confused Words