envoy

noun

en·​voy ˈen-ˌvȯi  ˈän- 

1

a

: a minister plenipotentiary accredited to a foreign government who ranks between an ambassador and a minister resident

called also envoy extraordinary

b

: a person delegated to represent one government in its dealings with another

2

: messenger, representative

Synonyms

• agent
• ambassador
• delegate
• emissary
• legate
• minister
• representative

Examples of envoy in a Sentence

the president sent the secretary of state as his personal envoy to gain the support of the country's allies

one of the hostage takers was chosen as the group's envoy for all dealings with the authorities

Recent Examples on the Web

President-elect Donald Trump is now considering tapping Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, to be a special envoy for Iran, according to two people familiar with the transition plans. —Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve Holland, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024

Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, has traveled to the Middle East to work on freeing him. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

James Jeffrey, who served as Mr. Trump’s Syria envoy, said that Mr. Trump initially saw the force as an example of a needlessly broad American military footprint. —Michael Crowley, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024

Who Is the Hostage Envoy? Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, is meeting with regional officials in hopes of gathering information on Tice's location following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French envoyé, from past participle of envoyer to send, from Old French enveier

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

envoy

noun

en·​voy ˈen-ˌvȯi  ˈän- 

1

a

: a diplomatic representative who ranks between an ambassador and a minister

b

: a representative sent by one government to another

ambassadors and other envoys

2

: representative entry 2 sense 2, messenger