An office is a place where people work at desks, usually doing tasks that involve thinking, planning, organizing, or communicating rather than physical labor. Doctors have offices where they meet with patients. Lawyers work in offices reviewing documents and preparing cases. Your school principal has an office where they handle the business of running the school.

The word can also mean a position of responsibility or authority. When someone holds public office, they've been elected or appointed to serve in government. The President holds the highest office in the United States. A company's chief executive officer (CEO) holds an important office in that organization.

When someone says “I'm going to the office,” they mean the building or room where they work. When someone says “She holds the office of treasurer,” they mean she has that official role and its duties.

You might hear phrases like office hours (when a teacher or professor is available to meet with students) or office supplies (pens, paper, staplers, and other tools used for desk work). Some offices are single rooms, while others fill entire skyscrapers with thousands of workers.