chargé d'affaires
Americannoun
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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
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
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
Kennan, who was chargé d’affaires at the U.S.
From Slate • Dec. 23, 2024
Lieutenant-Colonel Neale was at this time chargé d'affaires, and had just removed from Yokohama and resumed the occupancy of the temple of Tozenji.
From Japan by Murray, David
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.
