An ambassador is an important official who lives in a foreign country and represents his or her own country's interests there.
...the German ambassador to Poland. [+ to]
Synonyms: representative, minister, agent, deputy More Synonyms of ambassador
ambassador in British English
(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
3. ambassador plenipotentiary
4. ambassador-at-large
5.
an authorized representative or messenger
▶ USAGE The gender-neutral form is ambassador
Derived forms
ambassadress (amˈbassadress)
feminine noun
ambassadorial (æmˌbæsəˈdɔːrɪəl)
adjective
ambassadorship (amˈbassadorˌship)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French ambassadeur, from Italian ambasciator, from Old Provençal ambaisador, from ambaisa (unattested) mission, errand; see embassy
ambassador in American English
(æmˈbæsədər; æmˈbæsəˌdɔr)
noun
1.
the highest-ranking diplomatic representative appointed by one country or government to represent it in another
2.
a special representative: an ambassador-at-large is one accredited to no particular country; an ambassador extraordinary is one on a special diplomatic mission; an ambassador plenipotentiary is one having the power to make treaties
ME ambassatour < MFr ambassateur < OIt ambasciatore < Prov ambaissador < *ambaissa, mission, task < Goth andbahti, office, service < Celt *amb(i)actos, a messenger, servant (> L ambactus, a vassal) < IE *ambhi-, about (see ambi-) + base *aĝ-, to do (see act1)
Examples of 'ambassador' in a sentence
ambassador
But the switchboard told me it was the American ambassador.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is about being leader, ambassador, representative.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She was a PA to the British ambassador at the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She is a true ambassador for our country.
The Sun (2013)
She could serve them as an informal ambassador with foreign diplomats and visiting royalty.
Veronica Buckley CHRISTINA QUEEN OF SWEDEN: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric (2004)
She has been a conscientious ambassador for her country all her reign.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was thought best that foreign ambassadors should not witness these potentially embarrassing scenes.
Jonathan Wright Ambassadors: From Ancient Greece to the Nation State (2006)
He was also a very good ambassador for this country.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
At least two ambassadors from foreign countries will be there.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The Spanish ambassador arrived to greet him.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Why have a go at the British ambassador?
The Sun (2015)
He is a business ambassador for the Government and has been unapologetic about boardroom rewards.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She allowed the Spanish ambassador to propose his suit.
Jane Dunn ELIZABETH AND MARY: Cousins, Rivals, Queens (2003)
In addition, he has to be an ambassador for his people to the outside world.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
According to the British ambassador this was because such a bill would have to have covered both movements.
Blinkhorn, Martin (ed) Fascists and Conservatives (1990)
THE American ambassador has truly been spoiling our fashionistas.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
For some reason, the French ambassador was elsewhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He sometimes seems like an ambassador for his Government, rather than its embodiment.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He was alarmed that at this crucial time there was no British ambassador in the American capital.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She is an official volunteering ambassador for the 2012 Olympics and is urging people across the country to sign up.
The Sun (2010)
She told the Spanish ambassador "so many things had happened that it would take her three hours to tell'.
Jane Dunn ELIZABETH AND MARY: Cousins, Rivals, Queens (2003)
We went to quite an establishment school, and a lot of my friends' parents were ambassadors or in government.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
ambassador
British English: ambassador /æmˈbæsədə/ NOUN
An ambassador is an important official living in a foreign country who represents the government of his or her own country.
...the ambassador to Poland.
American English: ambassador
Arabic: سَفِير
Brazilian Portuguese: embaixador
Chinese: 大使
Croatian: veleposlanik
Czech: velvyslanec
Danish: ambassadør
Dutch: ambassadeur
European Spanish: embajador
Finnish: lähettiläs
French: ambassadeur
German: Botschafter
Greek: πρέσβης
Italian: ambasciatore
Japanese: 大使
Korean: 대사 외교관
Norwegian: ambassadør
Polish: ambasador
European Portuguese: embaixador
Romanian: ambasador
Russian: посол
Latin American Spanish: embajador
Swedish: ambassadör
Thai: เอกอัครราชฑูต
Turkish: büyükelçi
Ukrainian: посол
Vietnamese: đại sứ
Chinese translation of 'ambassador'
ambassador
(æmˈbæsədəʳ)
n(c)
大使 (dàshǐ) (位, wèi)
(noun)
Definition
a diplomat of the highest rank, sent to another country as permanent representative of his or her own country
the German ambassador to Poland
Synonyms
representative
trade union representatives
minister
He concluded a deal with the Danish minister in Washington.
agent
You are buying direct, rather than through an agent.
deputy
France's minister for culture and his deputy attended the meeting.
diplomat
the senior American diplomat responsible for the Middle East
envoy
A French envoy arrived in Beirut on Sunday.
consul
attaché
emissary
the President's special emissary to Hanoi
legate
Pope Innocent VI's legate
plenipotentiary
the British Plenipotentiary to the UN Conference
Additional synonyms
in the sense of agent
Definition
a person who arranges business for other people, esp. for actors or singers
You are buying direct, rather than through an agent.
Synonyms
representative,
deputy,
substitute,
advocate,
rep (informal),
broker,
delegate,
factor (Scottish),
negotiator,
envoy,
trustee,
proxy,
surrogate,
go-between,
emissary
in the sense of deputy
Definition
a person appointed to act on behalf of another
France's minister for culture and his deputy attended the meeting.
Synonyms
substitute,
representative,
stand-in,
ambassador,
agent,
commissioner,
delegate,
lieutenant,
subordinate,
proxy,
surrogate,
second-in-command,
nuncio,
legate,
vicegerent,
number two
in the sense of diplomat
Definition
an official, such as an ambassador, engaged in diplomacy
the senior American diplomat responsible for the Middle East