embassy

[em-buh-see]

noun

plural

embassies 

1. a body of people entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, especially an ambassador and their staff.

2. the official headquarters of an ambassador.

3. the function or office of an ambassador.

4. a mission headed by an ambassador.

embassy

/ ˈɛmbəsɪ /

noun

1. the residence or place of official business of an ambassador

2. an ambassador and his entourage collectively

3. the position, business, or mission of an ambassador

4. any important or official mission, duty, etc, esp one undertaken by an agent

Word History and Origins

Origin of embassy¹

First recorded in 1570–80; variant of ambassy, from Middle French ambassee, Old French ambasce, ambaxee, ultimately from Old Provençal ambaissada, derivative of embayssar “to send a delegate,” from Medieval Latin ambasciāre, derivative of ambascia “service, office,” derivative, by a Germanic intermediary (compare Gothic andbahti, Old High German ambahti ) of Gallo-Latin ambactus “retainer, servant” (from Gaulish, equivalent to amb- “around, both” + -act- verbal adjective of unattested ag- “drive, lead”; compare Welsh amaeth “husbandman”); ambi-, amphi- ( def. ), act, ambassador

Word History and Origins

Origin of embassy¹

C16: from Old French ambassee, from Old Italian ambasciata, from Old Provençal ambaisada, ultimately of Germanic origin; see _ambassador

Example Sentences

They offered no explanation of how a bonesaw just happened to be available inside the embassy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

China’s embassy in Norway warned against “hyping up” theoretical risks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Labelling ships used to export Russian oil as 'shadow fleet' is discriminatory and misleading," the embassy said, and instances of invalid flags were typically down to "easily resolved" issues such as administrative delays.

Read more on BBC

The Saudi journalist was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents inside an Istanbul embassy in 2018.

Read more on Salon

This August, Karic filed an updated complaint with the Italian courts through their embassy in Sarajevo.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• commission 
• consulate 
• delegation 
• ministry