A somewhat formal or bureaucratic term for a government official or civil servant. Often used in legal or administrative contexts.
He works as a prefectural official.
The salaries of officials are stipulated by ordinance.
municipal employee; city official
fire officer
police officer
Compound of 吏 (り, 'official') and 員 (いん, 'member'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of a government official.