consul

American  

[kon-suhl] / ˈkɒn səl /

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.

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consul British  

/ 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

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Commonly Confused

See council.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of consul

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

Explanation

A consul is a diplomat appointed to live in a foreign country, to protect both her country's interests and citizens living abroad. If you're an American living in Poland, take your troubles to the American consul. In ancient Rome, there were two consuls elected every year to be in charge of the whole city. Like many words, this one developed new meanings and spellings. One of those is council, like your city council, who make up part of city government. The other is consul in the modern sense: the person from one country who is appointed to represent his country to a foreign government.

Example Sentences

The museum contacted Ankara because the piece "had been donated by the wife of a US consul general who served in Istanbul in the 1940s", she said.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Netanyahu has long looked to Churchill as a model for leadership, said Ofir Akunis, the Israeli consul general to the U.S. in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

A photo with Sun on stage with the consul general shows both of them gripping a proclamation in Hochul’s name.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Similarly, Werner Gruner, South Africa's consul to the Bahamas, says that over the past two or three years, his office has seen a rise in local people travelling to South Africa, Ghana and Kenya.

From BBC • Aug. 17, 2025

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

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• envoy