officiant

noun

of·​fi·​ci·​ant ə-ˈfi-shē-ənt How to pronounce officiant (audio)
: someone (such as a priest) who officiates at a religious rite

Examples of officiant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sir Richard served as the officiant, alongside an Elvis impersonator. Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 That being said, the officiant said some wonderful things, and my wife was just ... well, incredibly touching. Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025 That being said, the officiant said some wonderful things, and my wife was just… well, incredibly touching. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025 Some couples might want to renew their vows on a trip together, and can find a local officiant to perform the service at a scenic spot. Shelby Wax, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for officiant

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin officiant-, officians, present participle of officiāre "to perform a function, perform priestly duties" — more at officiate

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of officiant was in 1740

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Officiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/officiant. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Legal Definition

officiant

noun
of·​fi·​ci·​ant ə-ˈfi-shē-ənt How to pronounce officiant (audio)
: one who performs the official duties at a ceremony (as a wedding)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!