chargé d'affaires

American  

[shahr-zhey duh-fair, shahr-zhey, shar-zhey da-fer] / ʃɑrˈʒeɪ dəˈfɛər, ˈʃɑr ʒeɪ, ʃar ʒeɪ daˈfɛr /

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 British  

/ 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

---

Etymology

Origin of chargé d'affaires

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

Example Sentences

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

On Thursday, the U.S. named Laura F. Dogu, a former ambassador to Honduras and Nicaragua, as the new chargé d’affaires for the State Department’s Venezuela Affairs Unit, which is based in Bogotá, Colombia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

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

From Slate • Dec. 23, 2024

Should this inference from Wellesley's inaction prove correct, Pinkney was directed to return to the United States, leaving the office with a chargé d'affaires, for whom a blank appointment was sent.

From Sea Power in its Relations to the War of 1812 Volume 1 by Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer)