foreign office

American  

noun

1. the department of a government that handles foreign affairs.

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foreign office British  

noun

1. US equivalent: State Department.  Canadian equivalent: department of external affairs.  the ministry of a country or state that is concerned with dealings with other states

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Etymology

Origin of foreign office

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

The BBC contacted the Indian foreign ministry, the hospital responsible for the identification process in Gujarat and the UK foreign office but has received no responses.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Britain's foreign minister Yvette Cooper warned her Iranian counterpart in a phone call "against targeting UK bases, territory or interests directly", a foreign office statement said.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

A foreign office spokesman said discussions were continuing with the U.S., though he disputed the idea that Britain was delaying implementing the deal, saying there had never been a timetable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

"It seems that nobody has been thinking. Where are the counsellors, where's the royal court and where's the foreign office?" says Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen, a historian and royal correspondent for Norway's TV2.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

Kappe asked Dasch if he wanted to work for either the German foreign office or some other endeavor.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

• embassy