consul

[kon-suhl]

noun

1. an official appointed by the government of one country to look after its commercial interests and the welfare of its citizens in another country.

2. either of the two chief magistrates of the ancient Roman republic.

3. French History.,  one of the three supreme magistrates of the First Republic during the period 1799–1804.

consul

/ ˈkɒnsəl, ˈkɒnsjʊlə /

noun

1. an official appointed by a sovereign state to protect its commercial interests and aid its citizens in a foreign city

2. (in ancient Rome) either of two annually elected magistrates who jointly exercised the highest authority in the republic

3. (in France from 1799 to 1804) any of the three chief magistrates of the First Republic

Confusables Note

See council.

Other Word Forms

• consular adjective
• consulship noun
• subconsul noun
• subconsulship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of consul¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin; a derivative of consulere “to take counsel, consult”; consult

Word History and Origins

Origin of consul¹

C14: from Latin, from consulere to _consult

Example Sentences

Kiep soon resigned as consul general, but he still was sent on trade missions.

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Mrs. Apple struck a pose in the manner of a Roman consul about to address the senate, much to the delight of the Incorrigibles.

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In a post on X on November 8, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, Xue Jian, threatened to "cut off that dirty neck", apparently referring to Takaichi, who took office in October.

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“We have no choice,” posted China’s consul general in Osaka, “but to cut off that dirty neck that has lunged at us without a moment’s hesitation. Are you ready?”

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Scipio advocated for the latter strategy as consul in 205 B.C.

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Related Words

• envoy