officious

[uh-fish-uh s] /əˈfɪʃ əs/
adjective
1.
objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice; meddlesome:
an officious person.
2.
marked by or proceeding from such forwardness:
officious interference.
3.
Obsolete. ready to serve; obliging.
Origin
1555-65; < Latin officiōsus obliging, dutiful, equivalent to offici(um) office + -ōsus -ous
Related forms
officiously, adverb
officiousness, noun
overofficious, adjective
overofficiously, adverb
overofficiousness, noun
superofficious, adjective
superofficiously, adverb
superofficiousness, noun
unofficious, adjective
unofficiously, adverb
unofficiousness, noun
Can be confused
official, officious.
officiate, officious.
Synonyms
1. interfering, meddling.
Antonyms
1. retiring.
Examples from the web for officious
  • These officious, self-important twerps can do whatever they want, alas.
  • Charities are at last venturing in to rescue some of them-when over-officious policemen do not block their entry.
  • He did not respond to the officious stranger and the brief encounter ended cordially.
  • What they mind is being abused by officious unhelpful staff.
  • The market will reward the good and punish the bad, and officious intermeddling by regulators has no place.
British Dictionary definitions for officious

officious

/əˈfɪʃəs/
adjective
1.
unnecessarily or obtrusively ready to offer advice or services
2.
marked by such readiness
3.
(diplomacy) informal or unofficial
4.
(obsolete) attentive or obliging
Derived Forms
officiously, adverb
officiousness, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin officiōsus kindly, from officium service; see office
Word Origin and History for officious
adj.

1560s, "zealous, eager to serve," from Latin officiosus "full of courtesy, dutiful, obliging," from officium "duty, service" (see office). Sense of "meddlesome, doing more than is asked or required" had emerged by 1600 (in officiously). An officious lie (1570s) is one told to do good to another person (from Latin mendocium officiosum or French mensonge officieux). Related: Officiousness.