office mate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "office mate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a colleague or coworker who shares an office space with you. Example: "I often collaborate with my office mate on various projects, and we share ideas to improve our work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

I use it only on the days when my office mate is in the office.

The New York Times

MY ADMIRABLE office mate and I did "Meet the Press: Take Two" yesterday.

The Economist

The Mobile Office Mate This is the office mate you didn't know you had until she sat down next to you.

The New York Times - Tech

Over the years, Mr. Tenney had often thought of his former girlfriend's office mate.

The New York Times - Style

And by that time, her former office mate and Mr. Tenney had broken up.

The New York Times - Style

She has taken a bit of ribbing: "All progress is carbon fueled," jeered one office mate.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Her mother-in-law and office mate, Diane Carlton, answered without hesitation.

The New York Times

It was won by my office-mate James Fox – later author of White Mischief, and Keith Richards's ghostwriter – for an entry reading simply: "Taxi, there.

The Guardian

Their parents and older siblings are doing it, too, I might add: how often have you sent an office-mate an email instead of getting up and making the walk to make the request in person?

The New Yorker

Will Truman was a handsome white lawyer with a nice apartment, and he was neither asexual nor lewd: the kind of imaginary office-mate you wouldn't want to deny a marriage license to.

The New Yorker

In Good Advice, she was a therapist dealing with a broken marriage and a hunky new office-mate, with whom she had nothing in common beyond a raw attraction.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "office mate" when you want to convey a sense of shared space and perhaps a more personal connection than just a "colleague".

Common error

Be careful not to use "office mate" when "roommate" is more appropriate. "Office mate" specifically refers to someone you share an office with, not a living space.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "office mate" functions as a noun, specifically a compound noun, used to identify a person who shares an office with another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a common and accepted term.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "office mate" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone who shares an office space. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While widely understood, its formality ranges from neutral to informal, with more formal options like "office colleague" available. It's important to use it accurately, ensuring it refers to a shared office rather than a shared residence. Its prevalence in news and media suggests broad acceptance in various communication settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Office colleague

Uses a more standard term for a coworker within the office setting.

Coworker in the same office

A more descriptive phrase clarifying the coworker's location.

Workplace companion

Replaces "mate" with a more formal term, focusing on the shared work environment.

Colleague in shared workspace

A formal alternative that emphasizes a shared workspace.

Shared office partner

Highlights the shared office space and the partnership aspect of the relationship.

Office sharer

Simplifies the concept to someone who shares the same office.

Desk buddy

A more informal term emphasizing proximity and camaraderie at work.

Work space companion

Emphasizes the shared workspace rather than the personal connection.

Fellow office occupant

A formal phrase indicating someone who shares the office space.

Office cohort

Describes someone belonging to the same work group or department within the office.

FAQs

What does the term "office mate" mean?

The term "office mate" refers to a colleague with whom you share an office space.

Is "office mate" the same as "coworker"?

While both terms refer to people you work with, "office mate" implies a shared physical office space, whereas "coworker" is more general. You can use alternatives like "office colleague".

What are some alternatives to "office mate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "desk buddy", "office colleague", or "workplace companion".

Is it appropriate to use "office mate" in formal settings?

While "office mate" is widely understood, it's generally more appropriate to use a more formal term like "office colleague" or coworker in professional contexts.