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Definitions

officeholder

[aw-fis-hohl-der, of-is-] / ˈɔ fɪsˌhoʊl dər, ˈɒf ɪs- /
NOUN
appointee
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delegate representative
NOUN
bureaucrat
Synonyms
STRONGEST
administrator civil servant functionary politician public servant
WEAK
desk-jockey pencil-pusher
NOUN
candidate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
applicant aspirant bidder competitor contender contestant nominee successor
STRONG
claimant entrant hopeful petitioner possibility pothunter runner seeker stumper suitor write-in
WEAK
dark horse favorite son handshaker job-hunter office seeker possible choice solicitant whistle-stopper
NOUN
minister
Synonyms
STRONGEST
administrator aide delegate diplomat envoy executive official secretary
STRONG
agent ambassador assistant consul legate liaison lieutenant plenipotentiary premier
WEAK
cabinet member prime minister
NOUN
nominee
Synonyms
STRONGEST
applicant appointee aspirant contender contestant
STRONG
entrant hopeful runner seeker
WEAK
office seeker
NOUN
officer
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agent chief civil servant deputy director executive leader manager official representative
STRONG
President appointee bureaucrat dignitary functionary head magistrate
WEAK
organization administrator public servant
Antonyms
STRONGEST
employee
NOUN
official
Synonyms
STRONGEST
administrator agent bureaucrat civil servant commissioner director executive leader manager minister officer representative secretary
STRONG
CEO President boss brains brass chancellor comptroller dignitary exec functionary governor higher-up incumbent magistrate marshal mayor panjandrum premier top treasurer
WEAK
big shot front office head person top brass top dog
Antonyms
STRONGEST
employee
NOUN
politician
Synonyms
STRONGEST
congressperson lawmaker leader legislator member of Congress president representative senator
STRONG
orator partisan speaker
WEAK
Party member baby-kisser boss handshaker member of parliament office seeker public servant statesperson whistle-stopper
NOUN
public servant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
civil servant elected official
WEAK
government worker official public employee public official

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The officeholder also leads the more than 6,000 members of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

The current officeholder, Rob Bonta, appeared well positioned for a 2026 bid for California governor, until he took himself out of the running and announced he would instead seek reelection.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

We have an investigative process in this country to which no former officeholder is immune.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2023

She’s a graduate of Brown University and the University of Virginia School of Law and previously served as a county officeholder in Passaic and an administrative law judge.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 8, 2023

Our farmers only wished his votes to accomplish their plans and have no use for him as an officeholder.

From The Sins of the Father A Romance of the South by Dixon, Thomas

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.