Dignitaries are people who are considered to be important because they have a high rank in government or in the Church.
Synonyms: public figure, worthy, notable, high-up [informal] More Synonyms of dignitary
dignitary in British English
(ˈdɪɡnɪtərɪ, -trɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-taries
a person of high official position or rank, esp in government or the church
dignitary in American English
(ˈdɪgnəˌtɛri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈdigniˌtaries
1.
a person holding a high, dignified position or office
adjective
2.
of or like a dignitary
Word origin
< L dignitas, dignity + -ary
Examples of 'dignitary' in a sentence
dignitary
Businesses are being particularly cautious about inviting foreign dignitaries and public officials.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
When you meet dignitaries you think it will be difficult but he just wanted a laugh.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Each village has one or two important houses where the rich and powerful local dignitaries would have lived.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He despised formal ceremony and sometimes shocked foreign dignitaries by meeting them in his slippers or a threadbare jacket.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
The high dignitaries of the churches would do better to encourage and applaud them than to focus their ire on trivia.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It belonged to some local dignitaries.
Magnouloux, Bernard Travels with Rosinante (1990)
Why the wasteful visits from foreign dignitaries, so ill timed and ill conceived?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
No foreign dignitaries have been invited to the ceremony, or the modest party afterwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
For the sake of protocol, gifts from foreign dignitaries will be accepted.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Coach says all these British dignitaries want to meet me.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Where possible, local dignitaries and police should be sought to sign the book.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is argued that the chiefs need accommodation befitting their ranks and of reasonable size because their jobs entail some requirements to entertain foreign dignitaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Local dignitaries used to a slower pace of life are struggling to comprehend how their small town has become the centre of French radicalisation.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A thin front line of leaders was padded out with a dozen rows of dignitaries and officials ringed by a large security presence.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The party is braced for skirmishes, not least from local party male dignitaries enraged that they have been barred from fighting in their local seat.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But for last night's lighting of the beacon, the crowd was restricted to local dignitaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The rain continued, the final whistle blew and the players listened patiently while a series of local dignitaries and politicians addressed them long into the night.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Hopefully Otto will not leave another unexpected diplomatic gift for visiting foreign dignitaries as he did when the Colombian delegation were in town.
The Sun (2013)
It is also feared the presence of the camp could cast a cloud over the 2012 Olympics as foreign dignitaries are booked to stay in hotels nearby.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
dignitary
British English: dignitary NOUN
Dignitaries are people who are considered to be important, especially because they have a high rank in government.
...an office fund used to entertain visiting dignitaries.
American English: dignitary
Brazilian Portuguese: dignitário
Chinese: > 显要人物政府或教会的
European Spanish: dignatario
French: dignitaire
German: Würdenträger
Italian: dignitario
Japanese: 高位の人
Korean: 고위 인사
European Portuguese: dignitário
Latin American Spanish: dignatario
(noun)
Definition
a person of high official position or rank
He was a visiting dignitary of great importance.
Synonyms
public figure
worthy
The event brought together worthies from many fields.
notable
The notables attending included five Senators, two Supreme Court judges and three State Governors.
high-up (informal)
bigwig (informal)
a bigwig who heads the local parliament
celeb (informal)
personage
MPs, film stars and other important personages
pillar of society
pillar of the church
notability
They want to get hold of some minor television notability to open the fete.
pillar of the state
V.I.P.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bigwig
Definition
an important person
a bigwig who heads the local parliament
Synonyms
important person,
somebody,
celebrity,
heavyweight (informal),
notable,
big name,
mogul,
big gun (informal),
dignitary,
celeb (informal),
big shot (informal),
personage,
nob (slang),
big cheese (old-fashioned, slang),
big noise (informal),
big hitter (informal),
heavy hitter (informal),
panjandrum,
notability,
V.I.P.
in the sense of notability
They want to get hold of some minor television notability to open the fete.
Synonyms
celebrity,
worthy,
notable,
big name,
dignitary,
celeb (informal),
personage,
megastar (informal),
V.I.P.
in the sense of notable
Definition
a person of distinction
The notables attending included five Senators, two Supreme Court judges and three State Governors.