embassy

American  

[em-buh-see] / ˈɛm bə si /

noun

plural

embassies

1. a body of people entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, especially an ambassador and their staff.

2. the official headquarters of an ambassador.

3. the function or office of an ambassador.

4. a mission headed by an ambassador.

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embassy British  

/ ˈɛmbəsɪ /

noun

1. the residence or place of official business of an ambassador

2. an ambassador and his entourage collectively

3. the position, business, or mission of an ambassador

4. any important or official mission, duty, etc, esp one undertaken by an agent

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Etymology

Origin of embassy

First recorded in 1570–80; variant of ambassy, from Middle French ambassee, Old French ambasce, ambaxee, ultimately from Old Provençal ambaissada, derivative of embayssar “to send a delegate,” from Medieval Latin ambasciāre, derivative of ambascia “service, office,” derivative, by a Germanic intermediary (compare Gothic andbahti, Old High German ambahti ) of Gallo-Latin ambactus “retainer, servant” (from Gaulish, equivalent to amb- “around, both” + -act- verbal adjective of unattested ag- “drive, lead”; compare Welsh amaeth “husbandman”); see origin at ambi-, amphi- ( def. ), act, ambassador

Explanation

An ambassador, a diplomat who represents her own country in a foreign country, lives and works in an embassy. Travelers sometimes visit their home country's embassy for help with their travel documents or other issues. If you've ever visited Washington, DC, you may have seen the French embassy or the Indian embassy. These buildings often resemble homes, which makes sense because ambassadors usually live in them. The word embassy first meant "job or position of the ambassador," and comes from the Old French ambasse, with its Latin root of ambactus, or "servant."

Example Sentences

Firstly in August 2021, and then again last year - just 16 days before his arrest outside the embassy.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

When the U.S. held a ceremony in August 2015 to mark the reopening of its embassy in Havana, no dissidents were invited.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The hub will have diplomatic immunity, such as the protections afforded to an American embassy, and operate under U.S. common law—the first arrangement of its kind anywhere in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

On 24 April, less than two weeks after his arrival in the UK he was searching for the Israeli embassy on his phone, and he was looking up religious law about suicide, the prosecution said.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“Tomorrow is September seventh, and we still don’t have answers. Why did Willa meet with those Polish mathematicians? Why didn’t she leave with Olivia and the American embassy staff? We’ve got to figure this out!”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• commission
• consulate
• delegation
• ministry