officiant

noun

of·​fi·​ci·​ant ə-ˈfi-shē-ənt 

: someone (such as a priest) who officiates at a religious rite

Examples of officiant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their friend and officiant coordinated a group chat so everyone could keep track of where Meaghan and Adam were inside the store, while another friend ordered pizza ahead of time. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2026

There were no family or friends on the guest list, just their officiant and Seyfried’s dog, Finn. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

The couple, who are both instructors at Skydive Seneca Lake, made the jump in upstate New York with their officiant, best man, maid of honor, bridesmaids and groomsmen, reaching speeds of up to 120 mph. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Frausto and Maguire eloped in La Jolla on June 10, 2026 with a ceremony including just the bride and groom, and their photographer and officiant. — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin officiant-, officians, present participle of officiāre "to perform a function, perform priestly duties" — more at officiate

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

officiant

noun

of·​fi·​ci·​ant ə-ˈfi-shē-ənt 

: one who performs the official duties at a ceremony (as a wedding)