An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French oficier "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French officier), from Medieval Latin officiarius "an officer," from Latin officium "a service, a duty" the late Latin from officiarius, meaning "official."

Examples

Ceremonial and other contexts

Officer, and/or Grand Officer, are both a grade, class, or rank of within certain chivalric orders and orders of merit, e.g. Legion of Honour (France), Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Holy See), Order of the British Empire (UK), Order of Leopold (Belgium)

Great Officer of State

Officer
Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia · Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Merchant marine officer or licensed mariner

Officer of arms

Officer in The Salvation Army, and other state decorations

Corporations

Bank officer

Corporate officer, a corporate title

Chief executive officer (CEO)

Chief financial officer (CFO)

Chief operating officer (COO)

Executive officer

Education

Chief academic officer, a provost

Sabbatical officer

Law enforcement

Bylaw enforcement officer

Corrections officer

Customs officer

Environmental Health Officer

Officer of the court

Parking enforcement officer

Police officer

Police community support officer

Security officer

Military

Officer (armed forces)

Commanding officer

Petty officer

Politics and government

Chief Medical Officer

Foreign Service Officer, a diplomatic officer

Internal Service Officer, a diplomatic officer

Presiding Officer (disambiguation)

Returning officer

Shipping industry

Captain (nautical), the person in charge of a merchant ship

Chief Engineering Officer, the person in charge of the technical department on a merchant ship

Chief officer or chief mate, typically the person in charge of the deck department of a merchant ship

Coastguard Rescue Officer, a rescue officer employed by HM Coastguard

Second officer or second mate, typically the navigator and medical officer on a merchant ship

Third officer or third mate, typically the safety officer on a merchant ship

Second Engineering Officer, the person in charge of the engine room on a merchant ship

Third Engineering Officer, an Engineering Officer of the Watch