gazette
C1Formal, official, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A newspaper, especially one published by official authority containing legal notices, government announcements, and public information.
An official journal or periodical publication, particularly one used by a government, university, or organization to announce appointments, awards, and official matters. Can also refer to the announcing of such information formally.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically, 'gazette' referred to a news-sheet. In modern contexts, it retains an official, often governmental or institutional, connotation. As a verb, it is a formal act of publishing in an official gazette.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in UK/Commonwealth contexts for official government publications (e.g., The London Gazette). In the US, the term is less common for federal publications but persists in some state, university, or military contexts.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with legal and state authority. US: May sound slightly archaic or specifically institutional (e.g., military, university).
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English, particularly in legal, governmental, and military registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] gazettegazette [N]be gazetted as [N]be gazetted in [the gazette]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be gazetted (formally appointed or announced)”
- “Gazette Extraordinary (a special issue)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for official notices of company dissolutions or director appointments in some jurisdictions.
Academic
Refers to official university publications announcing degrees, awards, and appointments.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; sometimes used in the name of local newspapers (e.g., 'The Smalltown Gazette').
Technical
Specifically refers to the official government publication where laws, regulations, and public notices are formally recorded.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- His promotion to Colonel was gazetted last week.
- The new law will be gazetted on Friday, after which it comes into force.
American English
- Her award was gazetted in the regimental orders.
- The commission's findings are scheduled to be gazetted next month.
adjective
British English
- He is a gazetted officer.
- The gazette notice was published online.
American English
- She holds a gazetted position within the state government.
- Refer to the gazette announcement for details.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My dad reads our town gazette every week.
- The new regulations were published in the official gazette.
- Upon being gazetted as a notary public, she was authorised to certify documents.
- The university gazette serves as the official record for all academic appointments and honours.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GAZelle reading a GAZETTE. The gazelle works for the government, so its newspaper is very official.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS PRINT (The act of printing in a gazette confers legal/official status).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как просто «газета» для общего понятия newspaper. В русском «газета» — общее слово. «Gazette» — это официальное/ведомственное издание, ближе к «вестник», «официальный бюллетень».
Common Mistakes
- Using 'gazette' as a casual synonym for any newspaper (too broad).
- Pronouncing it /ˈɡæz.et/ (incorrect stress).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'gazette' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While historically it meant a news-sheet, its modern core meaning is an official journal for legal or governmental announcements. Using it for a regular newspaper sounds archaic.
Yes, especially in formal UK/Commonwealth English. It means 'to announce or publish in an official gazette' (e.g., 'His name was gazetted for the award').
'The Gazette' (capitalised) often refers to a specific, titled official publication (e.g., The London Gazette). The lowercase 'a gazette' can refer to any such official publication generically.
The standard IPA transcription /ɡəˈzet/ is the same for both. The main difference is in the vowel quality of the unstressed first syllable and the /t/ sound, which may be softer or flapped in some American pronunciations, but the word is recognisably the same.
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