envoy

noun

en·​voy ˈen-ˌvȯi How to pronounce envoy (audio) ˈän- How to pronounce envoy (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
President-elect Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Saturday to push for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Israeli officials said. Barak Ravid, Axios, 11 Jan. 2025 Momentum built behind Aoun on Wednesday as Hezbollah’s long preferred candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, withdrew and declared support for the army commander, and as French and Saudi envoys shuttled around Beirut, urging his election in meetings with politicians, three Lebanese political sources said. Reuters, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025 Like Trump, the Ukraine-Russia envoy has also previously been critical of the Biden administration's approach to the war in Ukraine. Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025 While Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Cuban-American Sen. Marco Rubio, is a hardliner on Venezuela, Trump has also designated Richard Grenell as his presidential envoy for special missions, mentioning Venezuela among his top priorities. Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for envoy 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of envoy was in 1635

Dictionary Entries Near envoy

Cite this Entry

“Envoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envoy. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

envoy

noun
en·​voy ˈen-ˌvȯi How to pronounce envoy (audio) ˈän- How to pronounce envoy (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on envoy

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