'officeholder' originates from the combination of 'office' and 'holder', where 'office' meant 'a position of authority or service' and 'holder' meant 'one who holds or possesses'.

'officeholder' evolved from the Middle English word 'officier' and 'holder', eventually becoming the modern English word 'officeholder'.

Initially, it meant 'one who holds an office', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.