ambassador

American  

[am-bas-uh-der, -dawr] / æmˈbæs ə dər, -ˌdɔr /

Archaic, embassador

noun

• ambassadors
  plural

1. a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative ambassadorextraordinaryandplenipotentiary.

2. a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty.

3. a diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization.

4. an authorized messenger or representative. Amb., amb.

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ambassador British  

/ 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. a diplomatic minister of the highest rank sent on a special mission

3. a diplomatic minister of the first rank with treaty-signing powers

4. an ambassador with special duties who may be sent to more than one government

5. an authorized representative or messenger

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Usage

The gender-neutral form is ambassador

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ambassadorship
  noun
• ambassadress
  noun
• ambassadorial
  adjective
• preambassadorial
  adjective
• ambassadorially
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ambassadors
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of ambassador

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English am-, embass(i)adour, imbassadore, from Anglo-French ambassateur, ambassaduer, from Italian ambassatore, dialectal Italian ambassadore, equivalent to ambass- stem of “to send a delegate” + -atore, -adore, from Latin -ātōrem accusative of -ātor noun-forming suffix; see embassy, -ator

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Explanation

An ambassador is an official representative for his or her country, stationed in another nation, like Benjamin Franklin, who was an ambassador to France. Ambassador usually describes the official diplomatic envoy who represents one country to another. These ambassadors work to promote understanding, perhaps by settling differences or clearing up misunderstanding. Used less formally, an ambassador can be anyone who represents something, like a pop singer who is a "brand ambassador" for a cosmetics company.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ambassador ambassadors

In late September, The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, met with the Polisario on the sidelines of the U.N.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

In a statement on X, Guilfoyle rejected the allegations against her and defended her record as ambassador, highlighting efforts to boost US energy exports and strengthen security ties with Greece.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Iran's ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, said Tehran was not involved and was willing to cooperate with British authorities.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

The statement added that Mitte was an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, and he served as served as president of the Mitte Foundation, which supported philanthropic efforts and community initiatives.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

I’d been in the same room with the ambassador every minute that he was in our house, and besides, that overstuffed, freeloading bureaucrat was too self-involved to ever commit murder.

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

"This is not the first time that there are no ambassadors, in Greece or other countries in Europe, representing the US or other states for some months," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

The BBC's Catherine Burns spoke to some young mental health ambassadors who echoed the report's findings and called for an increase in mental health support.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Progress continues among Israel, the U.A.E. and Bahrain, and Israel and Morocco agreed Wednesday to resume direct flights, appoint ambassadors and turn their diplomatic missions into full embassies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

There’s also no question the Ballon d’Or voters, made up of writers from France Football and L’Equipe, alongside international soccer ambassadors, have a European bias.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

At their height, the Romans lived among all their conquered, the outer peoples brought to the city as ambassadors, lovers, soldiers, slaves.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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