ambassador

noun

am·​bas·​sa·​dor am-ˈba-sə-dər How to pronounce ambassador (audio)
əm-,
im-,
-ˌdȯr,
-ˈbas-dər
1
: an official envoy
especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment
She's the American ambassador to Italy.
2
a
: an authorized representative or messenger
b
: an unofficial representative
traveling abroad as ambassadors of goodwill
ambassadorial adjective
ambassadorship
am-ˈba-sə-dər-ˌship How to pronounce ambassador (audio)
əm-
im-
-ˌdȯr-
-ˈbas-dər-
noun

Examples of ambassador in a Sentence

Embassy officials met with the ambassador. a beloved entertainer who has often been sent abroad by the president as his country's goodwill ambassador
Recent Examples on the Web O'Neal will continue as a brand ambassador and is an investor of nine Papa Johns locations in Atlanta. The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2024 On Friday, the Citadel star, 41, visited the Bulgari store in Mumbai, India, wearing an impressive diamond necklace to fulfill her duties as the jeweler's brand ambassador. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 On Sunday evening, Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, spoke at the conference. Kenneth P. Vogel, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra music director Ken-David Masur is a proud ambassador for composers from Leipzig, his German hometown — where Johann Sebastian Bach worked from 1723 until his death in 1750. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2024 The longtime brand ambassador wore Chanel boxers in a crisp bright white, which, combined with this latest outfit, raises the question: Does Kristen Stewart not fear spills? Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2024 The partnership unveiled a parure co-designed by the maison’s co-president and artistic director, Caroline Scheufele, and Julia Roberts, Chopard’s global ambassador. Rachel Besser, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2024 For two years, the aircrafts – including the CH-46 helicopter that evacuated the American ambassador and flag from the roof of the embassy during the fall of Saigon in 1975 – have been sitting outdoors at Miramar. Erika I. Ritchie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 The event brings together 300 young leaders, plus world leaders, influencers, policy experts and more, including virtual appearances from ambassadors Hugh Jackman and Charlie Puth. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ambassador.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ambassatour, ambassiatour "diplomatic emissary, envoy, messenger," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French ambaxiatour, ambassatour (continental Middle French also embassator, ambassadeur), borrowed from Medieval Latin ambasciātor, ambassātor, from ambiasciāre "to communicate, send a message, send an envoy" (derivative of Late Latin ambascia, ambassia "mission, errand, task, journey") + Latin -tor, agent suffix — more at embassy

Note: The current form of the word with -d-, which becomes common in early Modern English, is dependent on Middle French (and French) ambassadeur, borrowed from Italian ambasciatore, probably borrowed from Old Occitan ambayssador. Regarding the variation between initial am- and em-, see the note at embassy. As the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, remarks, the form embassador was frequent in early Modern English, up to ca. 1700, and sporadic thereafter; the prevalence of the am- form is probably due at least in part to the influence of French ambassadeur. Though ambassador was apparently always more common in American English, Noah Webster preferred embassador, as he notes at the entry for ambassador in An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828): "This is the more common orthography; but good authors write also embassador; and as the orthography of embassy is established, it would be better to write embassador."

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ambassador was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ambassador

Cite this Entry

“Ambassador.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambassador. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ambassador

noun
am·​bas·​sa·​dor am-ˈbas-əd-ər How to pronounce ambassador (audio)
əm-,
-ˈbas-ə-dȯ(ə)r
1
: a person sent as the chief representative of his or her own government in another country
2
: an official representative or messenger
ambassadorial adjective
ambassadorship noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ambassador

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!