funcionario

civil servant

noun foonk-syoh-NAH-ryoh Less Common

Origin: From Latin functio (performance of a duty).

Also means

official

Usage Note

Funcionario refers specifically to a permanent public-sector employee in Spain and Latin America — someone with guaranteed tenure (plaza fija), not a temporary contractor. The feminine is funcionaria. It is often used with a mildly critical tone in everyday speech, implying bureaucratic caution. Funcionario público emphasises the government connection; funcionario de prisiones is a prison officer.

Examples

"La funcionaria selló todos los documentos."

Natural Translation

The civil servant stamped all the documents.

Literal Translation

The female-official sealed all the documents

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