chargé d'affaires

[shahr-zhey duh-fair, shahr-zhey, shar-zhey da-fer]

noun

Government.

plural

chargés d'affaires 

1. Also called chargé d'affaires ad interim. an official placed in charge of diplomatic business during the temporary absence of the ambassador or minister.

2. an envoy to a state to which a diplomat of higher grade is not sent.

chargé d'affaires

/ ˈʃɑːʒeɪ dæˈfɛə, ʃarʒe dafɛr /

noun

1. the temporary head of a diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador or minister

2. the head of a diplomatic mission of the lowest level

Word History and Origins

Origin of chargé d'affaires¹

1760–70; < French: literally, one in charge of things

Word History and Origins

Origin of chargé d'affaires¹

C18: from French: (one) charged with affairs

Example Sentences

Estonia's foreign ministry said it summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires "to lodge a protest" over Friday's incursion, while top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas described the incident as "an extremely dangerous provocation".

From BBC

Russia's temporary charge d'affaires in Poland said Warsaw had not provided evidence that the drones were of Russian origin.

From BBC

The US currently has no ambassador in Copenhagen, so Rasmussen has summoned Mark Stroh, who as charge d'affaires is the most senior diplomat in the Danish capital.

From BBC

Ukraine's foreign minister said that he had summoned China's charge d'affaires in Kyiv to "demand an explanation".

From BBC

Kennan, who was chargé d’affaires at the U.S.

From Slate