consulate

American  

[kon-suh-lit] / ˈkɒn sə lɪt /

noun

1. the premises officially occupied by a consul.

2. the position, work, authority, or term of service of a consul.

3. (often initial capital letter) a government by consuls, as in France from 1799 to 1804.

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consulate British  

/ ˈkɒnsjʊlɪt /

noun

1. the business premises or residence of a consul

2. government by consuls

3. the office or period of office of a consul or consuls

4. (often capital)

   1. the government of France by the three consuls from 1799 to 1804

   2. this period of French history

5. (often capital)

   1. the consular government of the Roman republic

   2. the office or rank of a Roman consul

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Etymology

Origin of consulate

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin consulātus, equivalent to consul consul + -ātus -ate ³

Explanation

One of the buildings where diplomats work is called a consulate. Many countries have both an American embassy and an American consulate. A consul is a diplomat who works in a foreign country as her home country's representative. The consul's offices are located in the consulate. A traveler might visit his own country's consulate when he's traveling abroad and needs help of some kind — for example, if his passport has been stolen or he's gotten into legal trouble. The root of consulate is the Latin consul, "magistrate," from consulere, "to deliberate or counsel."

Example Sentences

Jamshidi has family members, including his brother—who worked in a high-risk post as a security guard for the U.S. consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, for years—his sister-in-law, niece and nephew stuck in Camp As Sayliyah.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The consulate in San Bernardino said it contacted Ramos-Solano’s family to provide assistance and support.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

But on Monday, the US embassy in Turkey said it had closed its consulate in Adana and advised non-essential staff to leave, with the State Department urging all US citizens to leave the southeast.

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

A drone hit a car park adjacent to the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday evening and "set off a fire in that place", US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

On November 9 the announcement came, first by telegram and then by phone from the Swedish consulate in San Francisco.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• ministry