embassy

American  

[em-buh-see] / ˈɛm bə si /

noun

• embassies
  plural

1. a body of people entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, especially an ambassador and their staff.

2. the official headquarters of an ambassador.

3. the function or office of an ambassador.

4. a mission headed by an ambassador.

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embassy British  

/ ˈɛmbəsɪ /

noun

1. the residence or place of official business of an ambassador

2. an ambassador and his entourage collectively

3. the position, business, or mission of an ambassador

4. any important or official mission, duty, etc, esp one undertaken by an agent

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• embassies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of embassy

First recorded in 1570–80; variant of ambassy, from Middle French ambassee, Old French ambasce, ambaxee, ultimately from Old Provençal ambaissada, derivative of embayssar “to send a delegate,” from Medieval Latin ambasciāre, derivative of ambascia “service, office,” derivative, by a Germanic intermediary (compare Gothic andbahti, Old High German ambahti ) of Gallo-Latin ambactus “retainer, servant” (from Gaulish, equivalent to amb- “around, both” + -act- verbal adjective of unattested ag- “drive, lead”; compare Welsh amaeth “husbandman”); see origin at ambi-, amphi- ( def. ), act, ambassador

Explanation

An ambassador, a diplomat who represents her own country in a foreign country, lives and works in an embassy. Travelers sometimes visit their home country's embassy for help with their travel documents or other issues. If you've ever visited Washington, DC, you may have seen the French embassy or the Indian embassy. These buildings often resemble homes, which makes sense because ambassadors usually live in them. The word embassy first meant "job or position of the ambassador," and comes from the Old French ambasse, with its Latin root of ambactus, or "servant."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

embassy embassies

But the task is complicated by the fact that risks are dispersed across the Himalayas, while a 2015 earthquake destabilized many rock masses on the southern slopes, the embassy said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

China’s embassy in Nepal in recent days has responded to some Nepalese media reports and social-media comments that asked whether China had failed to provide Nepal with a warning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

Ukraine's embassy in Nepal said on Friday it was aware of 62 of its citizens with whom contact had been lost, revising its earlier numbers upwards by six.

From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a query for comment.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

“That’s when she started working more at night. Taking extra shifts at the embassy, she told me.”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

The State IG is busy scrutinizing embassies, much as the Agriculture IG focuses on food-stamp fraud.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

They point to the growing number of countries which have conferred de facto recognition by clinching deals, accrediting diplomats, operating embassies, and more.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

The BBC has contacted the US embassies of Canada, India, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and other trading partners listed in the report for comment.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

US embassies in capitals across the Middle East had warned their citizens on Saturday to beware of "unforeseen escalation" in the regional conflict and urged them to be ready to leave.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

The men wanted to know where John Parry had gone, and whether he’d sent anything back to her, and when she’d last heard from him, and whether he’d had contact with any foreign embassies.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• commission
• consulate
• delegation
• ministry