Officier

Officier is a term used in several languages, notably French and Dutch, to denote a person who holds an officer's rank or a position of authority. In military contexts, an officier is typically a commissioned officer who has received a formal commission from the state and is authorized to command units, plan operations, and represent the armed forces in official duties. The term can also apply to certain senior police or public-safety roles, depending on national usage.

Etymology: The word derives from the Latin officium through Old French, and is cognate with similar terms in many Romance and Germanic languages (for example French officier, Dutch officier).

Classification: An officier is generally contrasted with a non-commissioned officer (NCO), who does not hold a commission. In civil administration, some systems use officier to denote a public official or administrative officer, though many languages use distinct terms for civil posts. The precise meaning and ranks associated with officier vary by country and historical period.

History: The role of officers emerged with the professionalization of armed forces in the early modern era, separating leadership from enlisted ranks. In modern states, officers are typically selected based on training and merit and may undergo formal commissioning processes.