consul

[kon-suhl]

noun

1. an official appointed by the government of one country to look after its commercial interests and the welfare of its citizens in another country.

2. either of the two chief magistrates of the ancient Roman republic.

3. French History.,  one of the three supreme magistrates of the First Republic during the period 1799–1804.

consul

/ ˈkɒnsəl, ˈkɒnsjʊlə /

noun

1. an official appointed by a sovereign state to protect its commercial interests and aid its citizens in a foreign city

2. (in ancient Rome) either of two annually elected magistrates who jointly exercised the highest authority in the republic

3. (in France from 1799 to 1804) any of the three chief magistrates of the First Republic

Confusables Note

See council.

Other Word Forms

• consular adjective
• consulship noun
• subconsul noun
• subconsulship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of consul¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin; a derivative of consulere “to take counsel, consult”; consult

Word History and Origins

Origin of consul¹

C14: from Latin, from consulere to _consult

Example Sentences

Similarly, Werner Gruner, South Africa's consul to the Bahamas, says that over the past two or three years, his office has seen a rise in local people travelling to South Africa, Ghana and Kenya.

From BBC

Even the consul general of China had privately sought Peterson’s ouster.

From Los Angeles Times

Those are among the findings of a study released Tuesday by Carlos González Gutiérrez, the Mexican consul general in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

Frier, France’s consul general in Los Angeles, was preparing to host a party and the 25-pound sterling silver objet d’art was the guest of honor.

From Los Angeles Times

Pacific Southwest, based in Los Angeles, said security has been increased at consul facilities and at other Jewish institutions, with the help of American law enforcement and local police.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• envoy