The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word MANDATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
M
A
N
D
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result MANDATE
- Authorise staff appointment
- Delegate authority to fellow going to appointment
- Order two parts needed for a friend?
- Order separate ingredients for wife?
- The two parts needed to make friend give authorisation
- Order first of Mondeos and an Escort
- What gives couple authority?
- Order what you need to make friend?
- Authorisation of meeting with or in Douglas!
- permission
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Official order" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case official order = mandate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MANDATE mean?
MANDATE noun- An official or authoritative command; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept.
- The authority to do something, as granted to a politician by the electorate.
- A papal rescript.
- A period during which a government is in power.
- To authorize
- To make mandatory