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functionary

[ fuhngk-shuh-ner-ee ]

/ ˈfʌŋk ʃəˌnɛr i /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR functionary ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural func·tion·ar·ies.

a person who functions in a specified capacity, especially in government service; an official: civil servants, bureaucrats, and other functionaries.

Origin of functionary

1785–95; function + -ary, modeled on French fonctionnaire

Words nearby functionary

functional water, functionalism, functionalist, functionality, functionalize, functionary, functor, fund, fund manager, fund supermarket, fund-raise

Example sentences from the Web for functionary

A smile and a coin were forthwith presented to the functionary.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCLXXVI. February, 1847. Vol. LXI. |Various
It is in perfect keeping with the generally received estimate of the character of that functionary.

The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, April 1844 |Various
Such being this functionary's opinion, he tried every means to substantiate it.

Monsieur Lecoq, v.1 |Emile Gaboriau
Tibble had to go to this functionary at any rate, to obtain an order for payment for the corslets he had brought home.

The Armourer's Prentices |Charlotte M. Yonge

Church,” said he when that functionary arrived, “will you tell—my wife I want to see her?

The Man Who Lost Himself |H. De Vere Stacpoole

British Dictionary definitions for functionary

functionary

/ (ˈfʌŋkʃənərɪ) /

noun plural -aries

a person acting in an official capacity, as for a government; an official

adjective

a less common word for functional, official