Official is a broad word for anything formally sanctioned — an official statement, an official policy, an official offer. It signals legitimacy, but it says nothing about enforceability. Something can be entirely official and still be non-committal, revisable, or unenforceable if someone changes their mind.
What "official" doesn't tell you
"This is our official offer."
Official as in the company stands behind it publicly, or official as in it's still negotiable and either side can walk away with no consequence? "Official" doesn't say which.
What "binding" adds
Binding means legally enforceable — once it's signed or agreed to, backing out has real consequences. It's a claim about obligation, not just formality.
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Lyra Practice helps advanced non-native professionals learn the nuance of high-value workplace expressions and practice using them in realistic scenarios until it feels natural, so their English sounds precise and senior at work.
Start learning for free →"This is a binding offer, not a starting point for negotiation — if they sign, we're both locked in."
"The term sheet is official, but it isn't binding; the binding agreement comes after due diligence."
Both sentences distinguish something that's just formally stated from something that actually obligates the parties.
Quick swap
Instead of: "We sent them the official terms." Say: "We sent them a binding term sheet — once signed, neither side can walk away without penalty."
Instead of: "Is this the official agreement?" Say: "Is this binding, or is it still subject to change before signature?"
Instead of: "That's our official commitment for Q3." Say: "That's a binding commitment for Q3 — the SLA includes penalties if we miss it."
Lyra Practice helps advanced non-native English professionals learn the nuance of high-value workplace expressions and practice using them in realistic scenarios, so their English sounds natural, precise, and senior at work. Try Lyra Practice.