functionary
UK/'fʌŋkʃәnәri/US
GREC2
Definitions
n.
A person who has official duties, especially a minor official in a government or organization
(尤指级别较低的)官员；公务人员；办事员
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedfunctionto perform, execute, discharge
+
-aryact, process, state
=functionary
function (duty performed) + -ary (a person connected with) = 'one who performs a function' → an official who carries out duties, usually a minor one. The word often hints at a soulless rule-follower who merely performs their assigned role.
Common Collocations
- 1.government functionary政府官员
- 2.party functionary党的干部
- 3.low-level functionary低级公务员
- 4.minor functionary小官员
Example Sentences
- 1.
A low-level functionary stamped our forms without a word.
- 2.
The decision was made by party functionaries behind closed doors.
- 3.
He was just a government functionary following orders.