chargé d'affaires
Americannoun
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chargés d'affaires
plural
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Also called chargé d'affaires ad interim. an official placed in charge of diplomatic business during the temporary absence of the ambassador or minister.
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an envoy to a state to which a diplomat of higher grade is not sent.
noun
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the temporary head of a diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador or minister
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the head of a diplomatic mission of the lowest level
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of chargé d'affaires
1760–70; < French: literally, one in charge of things
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Petro was traveling to Washington, Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s interim president, met with U.S. chargé d’affaires Laura Dogu to talk about the future.
From Salon ● Feb. 5, 2026
She takes over from John McNamara, who had served as chargé d’affaires since February 2025 and traveled to Venezuela in January to discuss the potential reopening of the embassy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026
Seidman was appointed chargé d'affaires at Israel's embassy in South Africa last year and his role also extends to the neighbouring countries of Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius and Namibia.
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026
A U.S. diplomatic and security delegation led by chargé d’affaires John McNamara traveled to Venezuela on Friday to conduct logistical and technical evaluations for a possible reopening of the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
After long delay Whitworth obtained a passport and returned to England, leaving the embassy to a chargé d'affaires, who was peremptorily dismissed by Paul, and left Russia with the embassy in June.
From The Political History of England - Vol. X. The History of England from the Accession of George III to the close of Pitt's first Administration by Reginald Lane Poole
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
