ambassador

[ 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 ambassadorextraordinaryandplenipotentiary.
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. ambassador extraordinary
   a diplomatic minister of the highest rank sent on a special mission
3. ambassador plenipotentiary
   a diplomatic minister of the first rank with treaty-signing powers
4. ambassador-at-large
   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

Derived Forms

• ambassadorial, adjective
• amˈbassadress, noun:feminine
• amˈbassadorˌship, noun

Other Words From

• am·bas·sa·do·ri·al [am-bas-, uh, -, dawr, -ee-, uh, l, -, dohr, -], adjective
• am·bassa·dori·al·ly adverb
• am·bassa·dor·ship noun
• pream·bassa·dori·al 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

In both “Say Nothing,” and “The Diplomat,” Kinnear’s accent serves to separate his characters from the shows’ protagonists — various members of the IRA in the former and U.S. ambassador to the U.K.

From Los Angeles Times

The following year, his daughter was approached to be a judge and signed an ambassador agreement with Virgin Media O2 while chief executive of the Captain Tom Foundation, for which she was paid £18,000.

From BBC

Deputy US ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, said the document "abandoned" the necessity for there to be "a linkage between a ceasefire and the release of hostages".

From BBC

She also said she would be their ambassador and offered discounted one-to-one sessions for parents.

From BBC

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whom Trump wants as his ambassador to Israel, endorsed the possibility of annexation in an interview with Israel’s Army Radio the day after his nomination.

From Los Angeles Times