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.

Derived Forms

• consular, adjective
• ˈconsulˌship, noun

Other Words From

• con·su·lar adjective
• con·sul·ship noun
• sub·con·sul noun
• sub·con·sul·ship 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

In this version, Sharpless, the U.S. consul in Nagasaki, is bilingual.

From Los Angeles Times

An order to stop the Rafah offensive was the latest action against Israel, all of which create “a tremendous sense of pressure,” a former consul general said.

From New York Times

The consul could only issue them with emergency white passports for return to Ukraine.

From BBC

He published poetry and novels, produced musical theater and served as U.S. consul to Venezuela.

From Salon

A new face, the new India consul general in Seattle, was present at the event.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• envoy