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  

/ æmˌbæsəˈdɔːrɪəl, 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

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

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

More than 60,000 Canadians have signed a petition calling for the US ambassador in Ottawa to be expelled for undermining diplomatic relations between the two neighbours.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Russell previously was nominated twice for “The Diplomat,” in which she plays the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. during a crisis in the “special relationship,” and three times for “The Americans.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Bangladesh's ambassador to the UAE urged Islam to evacuate, but the captain chose to stay aboard, hoping the situation would stabilise.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

When Mike Huckabee took over as U.S. ambassador to Israel last year, he was shocked to discover that evangelical Christian organizations were struggling to obtain visas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Previously the home of the French ambassador, it was here the president and his wife would regularly entertain.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

The proposal, made at a gathering of OAS ambassadors, was supported by a large majority, though Mexico and Brazil expressed reservations.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

The pair, who met as schoolboys in Bushey, Hertfordshire, found themselves acting as unlikely cultural ambassadors, introducing western pop music to audiences unfamiliar with it.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

Officials said that there was some pushback from Italy over putting the pledge in black and white, but that it was eventually approved Friday by ambassadors at NATO.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

Rival Lululemon took an aggressive approach to opening stores and built its online presence online and through ambassadors in the country, Saunders said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Elegant ambassadors with their fancy wives on their arms pick snacks off silver trays.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez