dignitary

[ dig-ni-ter-ee ]

/ ˈdɪg nɪˌtɛr i /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dignitary ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural dig·ni·tar·ies.

a person who holds a high rank or office, as in the government or church.

Nearby words

Origin of dignitary

First recorded in 1665–75; dignit(y) + -ary

Related formsdig·ni·tar·i·al

[dig-ni-tair-ee-uh l] /ˌdɪg nɪˈtɛər i əl/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dignitary

Many of them, such as a visiting French dignitary fresh off a plane from Paris at the age of 103, proved that 90 is the new 30.
John McCain’s Surprising Toast at Kissinger’s 90th Birthday Party|The Daily Beast|June 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As soon as he was actually a dignitary of the Church, he turned his thoughts entirely to the stage!
The International Monthly, Volume 2, No. 4, March, 1851|Various
Three or four lads in the street flew away like birds at the sight of the dignitary, but the doves remained.
The Fourth Estate, vol.1|Armando Palacio Valds
Among the latter was the Prior of Jorvaulx, in the most gallant trim which a dignitary of the church could venture to exhibit.
Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 6|Charles H. Sylvester

Whenever a priest or a dignitary wanted to distinguish himself he discovered something.
The Ship Dwellers|Albert Bigelow Paine
The “exarch” of the archbishop, who is a dignitary but not a bishop, has a seat in the provincial synod.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 9|Various

British Dictionary definitions for dignitary

dignitary

/ (ˈdɪɡnɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun plural -taries

a person of high official position or rank, esp in government or the church

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dignitary

dignitary

1670s; see dignity + -ary. Related: Dignitaries (plural).

dignitary

noun, plural dig·ni·tar·ies.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of dignitary

Examples from the Web for dignitary

dignitary

noun plural -taries

dignitary