emissary

American  

[em-uh-ser-ee] / ˈɛm əˌsɛr i /

noun

• emissaries
  plural

1. a representative sent on a mission or errand.

   emissaries to negotiate a peace.

   Synonyms:

   legate, envoy, ambassador, delegate

2. an agent sent on a mission of a secret nature, as a spy.

3. Anatomy. sending or coming out, as certain veins that pass through the skull and connect the venous sinuses inside with the veins outside.

4. pertaining to an emissary.

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adjective

1. Archaic. sent forth, as on a mission.

emissary British  

/ ˈɛmɪsərɪ, -ɪsrɪ /

noun

1. 1. an agent or messenger sent on a mission, esp one who represents a government or head of state

   2. ( as modifier )

      an emissary delegation

2. an agent sent on a secret mission, as a spy

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adjective

1. (of veins) draining blood from sinuses in the dura mater to veins outside the skull

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• emissaries
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of emissary

1595–1605; < Latin ēmissārius one sent out, equivalent to ēmiss- ( see emission) + -ārius -ary

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Explanation

When presidents can’t attend state funerals, they send an emissary to pay their respects. An emissary performs a specific job on someone else’s behalf. Emissary is a word you hear often around governments, but anyone can be one or have one. Say, if you’re feeling too lazy to get off the couch you could appoint your little sister to be your emissary in fetching ice cream from the kitchen.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emissary emissaries

Cordeiro had been at Infantino’s side for the past five years and acted as a leading emissary to the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Instead, US envoy Steve Witkoff headed to Switzerland to get the talks back on track, American media outlets reported, with fellow Trump emissary Jared Kushner also expected there.

From Barron's ● Jun. 20, 2026

Bini — already stadium-sized superstars in Asia — is the latest emissary in Coachella’s reach for new sounds from around the globe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026

"The emissary, Félix Plasencia, would be the first representative of the country's ruling political movement, known as chavismo, to visit the American capital in an official capacity in years," the newspaper wrote.

From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2026

“Tree-ear! Have you heard? A royal emissary comes to Ch’ulp’o!”

From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park

Trump’s emissaries—his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his realtor friend Steve Witkoff—came close to piecing together such a deal through Pakistan emissaries.

From Slate ● Jun. 1, 2026

The White House said emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would engage in an "in-person conversation" with Iranian representatives, but Iranian state media said that direct negotiations were not in the cards.

From Barron's ● Apr. 25, 2026

Vance and Rubio gave no quarter, and the two emissaries were forced to return home with nothing more than a promise for a “working group,” which means nothing.

From Salon ● Jan. 18, 2026

One of our machine emissaries, Voyager 1, has already left the solar system and is still sending messages back home about its journey.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026

Six Cree groups in western Canada disappeared after 1781; the Blackfoot nation, blasted by smallpox, sent peace emissaries to Shoshone bands, only to find that all had vanished.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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Related Words

• envoy
• go-between
• intermediary
• messenger

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