ambassador-at-large

American  

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

noun

• ambassadors-at-large
  plural

1. an ambassador who is not assigned to a particular diplomatic post but is appointed on a special mission.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ambassadors-at-large
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ambassador-at-large

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ambassador-at-large ambassadors-at-large

“Its general problem is it can’t get the perpetrators in custody,” said Stephen Rapp, the former U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes and chairman for the Commission for International Justice and Accountability.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

For Stephan Rapp, a former US ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues, the process may have been imperfect but the probe was thorough.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

At the law school at Damascus University, more than 300 students attended a recent seminar addressed by international war crime legal specialists including Stephen Rapp, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

Armenia's ambassador-at-large, Edmon Marukyan, criticised the timing of the visit but stressed that it was important that UN officials saw for themselves what ethnic Armenians had been subjected to.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2023

Clemens in his note-book wrote: During 8 years now I have filled the position—with some credit, I trust, of self-appointed ambassador-at-large of the United States of America —without salary.

From Mark Twain, a Biography — Volume II, Part 2: 1886-1900 by Albert Bigelow Paine

"We ambassadors-at-large are each assigned an unexplored section of space," the alien said.

From Diplomatic Immunity by Robert Sheckley