oficiales

Oficiales is the plural form of the Spanish noun oficial and can refer to people who hold official positions in government, public administration, or other institutions, as well as to the officers who hold specific ranks within an organization. The word can also function as an adjective meaning official or authorized, as in information oficiial.

In a military context, officiales typically denotes commissioned officers who occupy leadership and command roles within the armed forces. They are distinguished from non-commissioned officers (suboficiales) and from enlisted personnel, with responsibilities that commonly include planning, decision-making, and overseeing units.

In law enforcement and public safety, the term is used to describe police officers or other security personnel in many Spanish-speaking countries. Ranks and organizational structures vary by country, but the general sense is that an oficial holds a recognized position within a formal hierarchy.

In civil administration, officiales refer to civil servants or public officials who work in ministries, agencies, or local government. Their duties may involve policy implementation, public services, regulatory tasks, and administrative management.

Etymologically, oficial comes from Latin officialis, through medieval Spanish, and has broad use across Spanish-speaking regions. The plural form oficial es is common, and the feminine form is la oficial, with las oficiales used for groups of women. The term appears in both formal and everyday language and is frequently paired with adjectives indicating rank, department, or function.