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

Planning permission for the embassy has previously been challenged amid fears that it could be used to spy on and interrogate dissidents.

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The exemption applied to children of foreign diplomats, in effect treating such children as if they had been born inside the foreign embassy itself—foreign soil under a foreign flag.

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North Korea's UK embassy was approached for comment but did not immediately respond.

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Activists also protested against the deal outside the US embassy when the first deportees arrived.

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Last week the State Department announced it will increase staffing levels at some embassies in order to try to process applications more quickly, but hasn't revealed which countries or how many staff.

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Related Words

• commission 
• consulate 
• delegation 
• ministry