adjective
ex officio
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Ex officio (adjective) means Held or done by virtue of one's position, without needing a separate election or appointment. Example: “The mayor is an ex officio member of every council committee.”
adjective
1
formal Held or done by virtue of one's position, without needing a separate election or appointment.
"The mayor is an ex officio member of every council committee."
"She attends as an ex officio trustee."
"The chair has an ex officio seat on the finance board."
adverb
1
By virtue of one's office or position.
"He serves on the panel ex officio."
How to use ex officio
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a role automatically because of another job you already hold.
When to use it
Used in governance, committees and law rather than everyday speech.
Memory tip
It describes the reason for the role, so it goes with 'member', 'trustee' or 'chair' rather than standing alone as a noun.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
ex officio member
ex officio chair
serve ex officio
ex officio and without vote
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The mayor is an _____ member of every council committee.
Etymology
Latin, literally 'from the office' or 'out of duty'.
Synonyms
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by right of office
automatic
Related words
Rhymes for ex officio
See all rhymes for ex officio →Frequently asked questions
Do ex officio members have voting rights?
Usually yes, unless the organisation's rules say otherwise. Being ex officio describes how someone got the seat, not what powers it carries, so check the constitution or bylaws, which often specify 'ex officio without vote' when the seat is non-voting.
What is the difference between an ex officio member and an ordinary member?
An ordinary member is elected or appointed as an individual. An ex officio member sits because of another post they hold, so the seat passes automatically to whoever succeeds them in that post and is lost when they leave it.
How should 'ex officio' be written?
Two words, no hyphen, and now normally without italics in English text. Hyphenate only in an attributive compound where clarity demands it; most style guides simply write 'an ex officio member'.
What is the meaning of ex officio?
"ex officio" (adjective) means held or done by virtue of one's position, without needing a separate election or appointment.
