definitions

attaché

[ a-ta-shey, at-uh- or, esp. British, uh-tash-ey ]
/ æ tæˈʃeɪ, ˌæt ə- or, esp. British, əˈtæʃ eɪ /
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noun

a diplomatic official attached to an embassy or legation, especially in a technical capacity: a commercial attaché; a cultural attaché.
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.
Also at·ta·che. attaché case.

RELATED WORDS

briefcase, backpack, purse, sack, kit, pocket, packet, gear, suitcase, handbag, pouch, pack, knapsack, carry-on, bag, folder, baggage, expert, mediator, envoy

Nearby words

attachment, attachment disorder, attachment of earnings, attachment parenting, attachment theory, attaché, attaché case, attack, attack ad, attack dog, attack rate

Origin of attaché

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

Can be confused

attach attaché
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for attache

British Dictionary definitions for attache

attaché

/ (əˈtæʃeɪ, French ataʃe) /

noun

a specialist attached to a diplomatic missionmilitary attaché
British a junior member of the staff of an embassy or legation

Word Origin for attaché

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

Culture definitions for attache

attaché

[ (a-ta-shay, at-uh-shay) ]

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

Note

Some nations disguise spies as attachés.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.