attaché

[ a-ta-shey, at-uh- or, esp. British, uh-tash-ey ]
/ æ tæˈʃeɪ, ˌæt ə- or, esp. British, əˈtæʃ eɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR attaché ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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Origin of attaché

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH attaché

attach attaché

Words nearby attaché

attachment, attachment disorder, attachment of earnings, attachment parenting, attachment theory, attaché, attaché case, attack, attack ad, attack dog, attack rate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to attache

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

Example sentences 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

Cultural 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.

notes for attaché

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.