chargé d'affaires

[ shahr-zhey duh-fair, shahr-zhey; French shar-zhey da-fer ]

noun

, Government.

, plural char·gés d'af·faires [shahr-, zheyz, d, uh, -, fair, shahr, -zheyz, sh, a, r, -zhey d, a, -, fer].

1. Also called chargé d'affaires ad interim. an official placed in charge of diplomatic business during the temporary absence of the ambassador or minister.
2. an envoy to a state to which a diplomat of higher grade is not sent.

chargé d'affaires

/ ˈʃɑːʒeɪ dæˈfɛə; ʃarʒe dafɛr /

noun

1. the temporary head of a diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador or minister
2. the head of a diplomatic mission of the lowest level

Word History and Origins

Origin of chargé d'affaires¹

1760–70; < French: literally, one in charge of things

Word History and Origins

Origin of chargé d'affaires¹

C18: from French: (one) charged with affairs

Example Sentences

Rachel Brazier has been charge d’affaires at the embassy since April, a role in which a diplomat serves as an embassy’s chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador.

From Seattle Times

Estonia's foreign ministry said it had summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires and said it was treating the move as a "provocative border incident".

From BBC

US Chargé d'Affaires in Liberia Catherine Rodriguez commended Mr Boakai for taking a "historic and courageous step to bring justice and accountability for the atrocities committed".

From BBC

Iran's charge d'affaires in the UK, Mehdi Hosseini Matin, said "we deny any link" to the attack.

From BBC

Mehdi Hosseini Matin, Iran’s charge d’affaires in the U.K., has said “we deny any link” to the incident.

From Seattle Times