ambassador

Archaic, em·bas·sa·dor

[am-bas-uh-der, -dawr]

noun

1. a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative ambassadorextraordinaryandplenipotentiary.

2. a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty.

3. a diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization.

4. an authorized messenger or representative. Amb., amb.

ambassador

/ æmˌbæsəˈdɔːrɪəl, æmˈbæsədə /

noun

1. short for ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary ; a diplomatic minister of the highest rank, accredited as permanent representative to another country or sovereign

2. a diplomatic minister of the highest rank sent on a special mission

3. a diplomatic minister of the first rank with treaty-signing powers

4. an ambassador with special duties who may be sent to more than one government

5. an authorized representative or messenger

Usage

The gender-neutral form is ambassador

Other Word Forms

• ambassadorial adjective
• ambassadress noun
• ambassadorship noun
• ambassadorially adverb
• preambassadorial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambassador¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English am-, embass(i)adour, imbassadore, from Anglo-French ambassateur, ambassaduer, from Italian ambassatore, dialectal Italian ambassadore, equivalent to ambass- stem of “to send a delegate” + -atore, -adore, from Latin -ātōrem accusative of -ātor noun-forming suffix; embassy, -ator

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambassador¹

C14: from Old French ambassadeur, from Italian ambasciator, from Old Provençal ambaisador, from ambaisa (unattested) mission, errand; see _embassy

Example Sentences

Instead, the Australian government last week took action that Israel applauded: ordering Iran's ambassador to leave the country based on allegations that the Iranian government directed antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.

From BBC

A former Lebanese ambassador to Iran confirms the existence of Sadr's letter.

From BBC

The UK's ambassador to Israel has said it would be "a huge mistake".

From BBC

But Nirupama Rao, former Indian ambassador to Beijing and Washington, says India is "a titan in chrysalis" - too large and ambitious to bind itself to any single great power.

From BBC

Ottawa has now named Christopher Cooter as its new envoy to Delhi, while India has appointed Dinesh K Patnaik, currently ambassador to Spain, as its representative in Canada.

From BBC