envoy
1 Americannoun
noun
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Formal name: envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an ambassador and a minister resident
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an accredited messenger, agent, or representative
noun
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a brief dedicatory or explanatory stanza concluding certain forms of poetry, notably ballades
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a postscript in other forms of verse or prose
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of envoy1
1635–45; < French envoyé envoy, noun use of past participle of envoyer to send < Vulgar Latin *inviāre, presumably originally to be on a journey, verbal derivative of Latin in viā on one's way, en route
Origin of envoy2
1350–1400; Middle English envoye < Old French, derivative of envoyer to send; see envoy 1
Explanation
An envoy is someone sent out as a messenger to represent another person or group, such as a country or business. The saying "Don't kill the messenger" could easily be "Don't kill the envoy," because an envoy is a messenger. The U.S. government has many envoys, as do other countries and many organizations and businesses. In government, an envoy has much less power than an ambassador. The word envoy is also used to describe a brief postscript in poetry or prose that explains or ties up the previous piece before “sending it to readers,” so that’s messenger-like too.
Vocabulary lists containing envoy
Poetry: Literary Devices
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This Week in Words: October 6 - 12, 2018
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This Week in Words: April 13–19, 2019
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Although Kushner chose not to officially rejoin his father-in-law’s second administration, he is serving, along with Trump’s real estate buddy Steve Witkoff, as its special diplomatic envoy.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict have stalled, but Trump's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner had said on Monday that the United States and Iran were having "very positive and active conversations".
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
The firm was founded in 2024 by two of Trump’s sons and the sons of Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s special envoy to the Middle East.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Zach Witkoff is the son of Steve Witkoff, the president’s friend and Middle East envoy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
"I come as envoy from my son, Robb Stark, the King in the North, to treat with Renly Baratheon, the King in the South."
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
