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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

The same month, royal records show, British taxpayers picked up a bill for £57,000 for a chartered flight for the former prince to visit Kazakhstan on official business as trade envoy.

From BBC

On Sunday night, a longtime U.S. envoy known personally to her spelled it out: “Look, find a way. Work toward cooperating with the United States.”

From The Wall Street Journal

A special envoy for Xi was in Venezuela’s presidential palace on Friday afternoon, enjoying a laugh with Maduro as the South American leader was trying out a few words in Mandarin, just hours before U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

His government's move to appoint a special envoy to Greenland recently prompted anger in Denmark - a Nato ally that has traditionally enjoyed close relations with Washington.

From BBC

It followed his conviction by a local court for ignoring rulings by Christian Schmidt, the top international envoy who oversees the peace deal, which ended Bosnia's inter-ethnic war in the 1990s.

From Barron's

Related Words

• delegate
• diplomat
• emissary
• minister
• representative