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nuncio

American  
[nuhn-shee-oh, -see-oh, noon-] / ˈnʌn ʃiˌoʊ, -siˌoʊ, ˈnʊn- /

noun

plural

nuncios

  1. a diplomatic representative of the pope at a foreign court or capital: equal in status to an ambassador.

nuncio British  
/ -sɪ-, ˈnʌnʃɪˌəʊ /

noun

  1. RC Church a diplomatic representative of the Holy See, ranking above an internuncio and esp having ambassadorial status

"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

Etymology

Origin of nuncio

1520–30; < Italian nuncio, nunzio < Latin nūncius, nūntius messenger

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.

A few days later, Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby requested a meeting with the Vatican’s then top diplomat in Washington, the Papal Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Paolo Borgia, who attended the funeral, said he "shared the worries" of the residents and was trying "to find solutions".

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

Apostolic Nuncio Visvaldas Kulbokas was told Kyiv was "disappointed" by the remarks, the foreign ministry said.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2024

"With my salary, which is higher than the average salary in Lisbon, I cannot afford renting a flat because it's too expensive," said Nuncio Renzi, a sales executive from Italy living in the capital.

From Reuters • Apr. 1, 2023

The Nuncio is the boss man that the Pope send from Rome,” explains Victor.

From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple

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.