offiziell

Offiziell is a German adjective meaning "official" or "authorized by an organization or authority." It describes statements, documents, actions, or statuses that are issued, approved, or recognized by an institution such as a government, company, or association. In everyday language it is used to distinguish from unofficial or informal sources, as in eine offizielle Stellungnahme or offizielle Dokumente.

Etymology and usage notes: offizielle Nachweise derive from the French officiel, ultimately from Latin officialis. The word entered German in the early modern period and is cognate with the English term "official." The form and meaning are widely used across contexts, including politics, business, media, and public life. In construction, it often appears with nouns like Stellungnahme (statement), Bestätigung (confirmation), or Version (version).

Usage and nuance: While offizielle statements or documents carry the authority of the issuing body, the term does not in itself guarantee factual accuracy. It signals formal authorization or public recognition rather than evaluative truth. In some contexts, the more tightly defined term amtlich may be used to emphasize official action by a government office or public authority, whereas behördlich also conveys official status tied to a specific authority. Nevertheless, offizielle is common in corporate press releases, organizational communications, and media reporting to denote statements or materials produced or endorsed by an organization.

Related terms include inoffiziell (unofficial), unofficially, and offiziell as a counterpart to unofficial. In everyday language, offizielle can describe anything designed for public distribution or formal acknowledgement by an institution.