envoy

[ en-voi, ahn- ]

/ ˈɛn vɔɪ, ˈɑn- /

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See synonyms for: envoy / envoys on Thesaurus.com

noun

a diplomatic agent.

any accredited messenger or representative.

Also called envoy extraordinary, minister plenipotentiary. a diplomatic agent of the second rank, next in status after an ambassador.

OTHER WORDS FOR envoy

1, 2 delegate, emissary, deputy.

See synonyms for envoy on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of envoy

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

Words nearby envoy

environmental resistance, environmental science, environs, envisage, envision, envoy, envy, enweave, enwheel, enwind, enwomb

Other definitions for envoy (2 of 2)

envoy²

or en·voi

[ en-voi, ahn- ]

/ ˈɛn vɔɪ, ˈɑn- /

noun

a short stanza concluding a poem in certain archaic metrical forms, as a ballade, and serving as a dedication, or a similar postscript to a prose composition.

Origin of envoy

1350–1400; Middle English envoye<Old French, derivative of envoyer to send; see envoy¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use envoy in a sentence

Eisenhower sent James Richards, special envoy to the Middle East, to sell his doctrine around the region, but Richards had little success.
Afghanistan’s collapse exposes the truth about U.S. military invasions in the region|Suzanne Enzerink|August 25, 2021|Washington Post
Next, she torched an envoy from her would-be future husband.
Badass Royal Women You Need to Know|Sean Culligan|July 1, 2021|Ozy
He also assumed the role of special envoy to Saudi Arabia, and some experts I spoke to, citing Jordanian sources, said he is also a special adviser to Salman.
Jordan’s royal family feud and alleged coup plot, explained|Alex Ward|April 9, 2021|Vox
He's named former secretary of state John Kerry as international climate envoy and former EPA administrator Gina McCarthy as national climate adviser.
Every Cabinet job is about climate change now|Ben Adler|January 21, 2021|Washington Post

He vows to reappoint a special envoy to advance international LGBTQ rights, form a coalition of countries to advance international LGBTQ rights and guide the GLOBE Act into passage, as the Blade reported.
Just vote|Kevin Naff|October 28, 2020|Washington Blade
Egypt expelled the Turkish ambassador last year, prompting Ankara to declare the Egyptian envoy in Turkey persona non grata.
Turkey Takes in ‘Terrorists’ from the Muslim Brotherhood|Thomas Seibert|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A Russian envoy reportedly played a role persuading the rebels in Slovyansk to let them go.
Carnage in Ukraine: Dozens of Pro-Russia Activists Die in Odessa|Jamie Dettmer|May 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, oh, by the way, they only speak to the dealer, United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, not to each other.
The Penny-Ante Syria Talks|Christopher Dickey|January 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Israel then drove his red GMC Envoy onto the Bear Mountain Bridge, a large span across the Hudson River.
First Rule of the Fake Dead Bankers Club: Stay Gone|Daniel Gross|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
U.S. special envoy Donald Booth visited the detainees and found their condition to be good.
Preventing South Sudan’s Civil War|John Prendergast, Akshaya Kumar|December 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
English influence was all-powerful at Lisbon and the new envoy had not the talent to counteract it.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
He was in the habit of visiting or writing to them; and here the elders sent to him, if they happened to have a trustworthy envoy.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
He was at the time envoy to Spain, and the deed was perpetrated by six exiled royalists there.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
And thirdly, Fortune cannot well have the 'envoy' unless she has the stanza preceding it.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
The envoy no sooner opened his case and made known his message, than Thurlow cut short all further argument.
A Cursory History of Swearing|Julian Sharman

British Dictionary definitions for envoy (1 of 2)

envoy¹

/ (ˈɛnvɔɪ) /

noun

Formal name: envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an ambassador and a minister resident

an accredited messenger, agent, or representative

Derived forms of envoy

envoyship, noun

Word Origin for envoy

C17: from French envoyé, literally: sent, from envoyer to send, from Vulgar Latin inviāre (unattested) to send on a journey, from in- ² + via road

British Dictionary definitions for envoy (2 of 2)

envoy²

envoi

/ (ˈɛnvɔɪ) /

noun

a brief dedicatory or explanatory stanza concluding certain forms of poetry, notably ballades

a postscript in other forms of verse or prose

Word Origin for envoy

C14: from Old French envoye, from envoyer to send; see envoy 1

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

envoy

OTHER WORDS FOR envoy

Origin of envoy

Words nearby envoy

Other definitions for envoy (2 of 2)

or en·voi

Origin of envoy

Words related to envoy

How to use envoy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for envoy (1 of 2)

Derived forms of envoy

Word Origin for envoy

British Dictionary definitions for envoy (2 of 2)

envoi

Word Origin for envoy