Dictionary.com

ambassador

[ am-bas-uh-der, -dawr ]
/ æmˈbæs ə dər, -ˌdɔr /
Save This Word!

noun
a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative (ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary ).
a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty.
a diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization.
an authorized messenger or representative. Abbreviation: Amb., amb.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Also Archaic, em·bas·sa·dor [em-bas-uh-der] /ɛmˈbæs ə dər/ .

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

OTHER WORDS FROM ambassador

am·bas·sa·do·ri·al [am-bas-uh-dawr-ee-uhl, -dohr-], /æmˌbæs əˈdɔr i əl, -ˈdoʊr-/, adjectiveam·bas·sa·do·ri·al·ly, adverbam·bas·sa·dor·ship, nounpre·am·bas·sa·do·ri·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ambassador in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ambassador

ambassador
/ (æmˈbæsədə) /

noun
short for ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary; a diplomatic minister of the highest rank, accredited as permanent representative to another country or sovereign
ambassador extraordinary a diplomatic minister of the highest rank sent on a special mission
ambassador plenipotentiary a diplomatic minister of the first rank with treaty-signing powers
ambassador-at-large US an ambassador with special duties who may be sent to more than one government
an authorized representative or messenger

Derived forms of ambassador

ambassadress, fem nambassadorial (æmˌbæsəˈdɔːrɪəl), adjectiveambassadorship, noun

Word Origin for ambassador

C14: from Old French ambassadeur, from Italian ambasciator, from Old Provençal ambaisador, from ambaisa (unattested) mission, errand; see embassy

usage for ambassador

The gender-neutral form is ambassador
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
FEEDBACK