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envoy

1 American  
[en-voi, ahn-] / ˈɛn vɔɪ, ˈɑn- /

noun

  1. a diplomatic agent.

    Synonyms:
    deputy, emissary, delegate

  2. any accredited messenger or representative.

    Synonyms:
    deputy, emissary, delegate

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

envoy 2 American  
[en-voi, ahn-] / ˈɛn vɔɪ, ˈɑn- /
Or envoi

noun

  1. 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.

envoy 1 British  
/ ˈɛnvɔɪ /

noun

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

  2. an accredited messenger, agent, or representative

"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 2 British  
/ ˈɛnvɔɪ /

noun

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

  2. a postscript in other forms of verse or prose

"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

Other Word Forms

  • envoyship noun

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; envoy 1

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.

MPs have backed the release of documents on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment as a UK trade envoy.

From BBC

The president’s envoys are no more forthcoming with a rationale for the threatened military strikes.

From Salon

Tuesday's debate comes as MPs on the business and trade committee are expected to meet this week to decide whether to launch a parliamentary investigation into the appointment of UK trade envoys.

From BBC

The French foreign ministry says US envoy Charles Kushner should be blocked from access to the government, after he failed to explain comments about an alleged "rise" of violence in France.

From BBC

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor charged taxpayers for massages and excessive travel costs while working as the UK's trade envoy, whistleblowing retired civil servants have claimed.

From BBC

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.