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envoy

1 American  
[en-voi, ahn-] / ˈɛn vɔɪ, ˈɑn- /

noun

  1. a diplomatic agent.

    Synonyms:
    deputy, emissary, delegate

  2. any accredited messenger or representative.

    Synonyms:
    deputy, emissary, delegate

  3. Also called minister plenipotentiary.  Also called envoy extraordinary.  a diplomatic agent of the second rank, next in status after an ambassador.

envoy 2 American  
[en-voi, ahn-] / ˈɛn vɔɪ, ˈɑn- /
Or envoi

noun

  1. a short stanza concluding a poem in certain archaic metrical forms, as a ballade, and serving as a dedication, or a similar postscript to a prose composition.

envoy 1 British  
/ ˈɛnvɔɪ /

noun

  1. Formal name: envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary.  a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an ambassador and a minister resident

  2. an accredited messenger, agent, or representative

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
envoy 2 British  
/ ˈɛnvɔɪ /

noun

  1. a brief dedicatory or explanatory stanza concluding certain forms of poetry, notably ballades

  2. a postscript in other forms of verse or prose

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • envoyship noun

Etymology

Origin of envoy1

1635–45; < French envoyé envoy, noun use of past participle of envoyer to send < Vulgar Latin *inviāre, presumably originally to be on a journey, verbal derivative of Latin in viā on one's way, en route

Origin of envoy2

1350–1400; Middle English envoye < Old French, derivative of envoyer to send; envoy 1

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.

The former Duke of York served as the UK's trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, enjoying privileged access to senior government and business contacts around the world.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The country’s officials helped deliver America’s 15-point peace plan to Iran, according to Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

"Dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward," he wrote on X, tagging US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Friday he believed Iran would hold talks with Washington "this week, we're certainly hopeful for it".

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

“Sad to say, Yunkai has no faith in your promises. They keep plucking the same string on the harp, about some envoy that your dragons set on fire.”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

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.