attaché

[a-ta-shey, at-uh-, uh-tash-ey]

noun

1. a diplomatic official attached to an embassy or legation, especially in a technical capacity.

   a commercial attaché;

   a cultural attaché.

2. a military officer who is assigned to a diplomatic post in a foreign country in order to gather military information.

   an air attaché;

   an army attaché;

   a naval attaché.

3. Also attache attaché case.

attaché

/ ataʃe, əˈtæʃeɪ /

noun

1. a specialist attached to a diplomatic mission

   military attaché

2. a junior member of the staff of an embassy or legation

attaché

1. A diplomatic officer attached to an embassy or consulate. Most attachés have specialties, such as military attachés, cultural attachés, economic attachés, and so forth.

Some nations disguise spies as attachés.

Word History and Origins

Origin of attaché¹

1825–35; < French: literally, attached, past participle of attacher to attach

Word History and Origins

Origin of attaché¹

C19: from French: someone attached (to a mission), from attacher to _attach

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