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Synonyms

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.

US Vice President JD Vance will lead talks with Iran beginning Saturday in Islamabad, and will be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, the White House said.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

A White House official said Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation, which will also include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Guterres called for stepped-up diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution and said his personal envoy, Jean Arnault, was travelling to the region to support them.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

On Feb. 28, the U.S.’s envoy to Cuba, Mike Hammer, met with the Vatican’s secretary of state, while Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, met separately with the pontiff.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

We returned to the ship to find a strange envoy from a man of wealth but two miles down the river.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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.