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

diglyceride, diglycol, diglycolic acid, dignified, dignify, dignitary, dignity, digonal, digoneutic, digoxin, digram

Origin of dignitary

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

Related forms

dig·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