noun
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the business premises or residence of a consul
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government by consuls
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the office or period of office of a consul or consuls
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(often capital)
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the government of France by the three consuls from 1799 to 1804
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this period of French history
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(often capital)
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the consular government of the Roman republic
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the office or rank of a Roman consul
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Etymology
Origin of consulate
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin consulātus, equivalent to consul consul + -ātus -ate 3
Explanation
One of the buildings where diplomats work is called a consulate. Many countries have both an American embassy and an American consulate. A consul is a diplomat who works in a foreign country as her home country's representative. The consul's offices are located in the consulate. A traveler might visit his own country's consulate when he's traveling abroad and needs help of some kind — for example, if his passport has been stolen or he's gotten into legal trouble. The root of consulate is the Latin consul, "magistrate," from consulere, "to deliberate or counsel."
Vocabulary lists containing consulate
The Distance Between Us
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Parachutes
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Games of Deception
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Although grateful for the ITF's help and efforts by the consulate, one of the stranded sailors told AFP they had "little hope someone will come and rescue us".
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Instead, Romania has shut down a Russian consulate in the port city of Constanta as a "warning", according to its president.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
Romania said it was closing the Russian consulate in the Black Sea city of Constanta and expelling the consul general, prompting Moscow to threaten a similar response.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
The US has announced a new policy that means most immigrants seeking a green card will have to leave the country and apply at an embassy or consulate abroad.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
“Sierra Leone consulate, ahh, embassy,” I told the driver.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
