legation
noun
le·ga·tion
li-ˈgā-shən 
1
: the sending forth of a legate
2
: a body of deputies sent on a mission
specifically
: a diplomatic mission in a foreign country headed by a minister
3
: the official residence and office of a diplomatic minister in a foreign country
Examples of legation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Japanese government promptly purchased more than 100 copies of Yardley’s book, sending it to embassies and legations to encourage them to strengthen their codes.
—
Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
Perle not only greeted them but invited them to dinner that night with the legation's employees.
—CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025
Fortuitously, that morning, a random telephone call got through to the embassy from the U.S. legation in Berne.
—Sam Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2015
At issue are the diplomats who arrived from the Republic of Texas, the then-independent nation, to Washington, a then-foreign capital, in the mid-1800s to establish a legation – an outpost along the lines of an embassy – that ultimately helped secure Texas' annexation by the U.S.
—Tom Benning, Dallas News, 21 Sep. 2020
The Harrison administration in turn removed the US legation from Rome.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Oct. 2021
Handwritten letters in neat cursive from officials in the Chinese legation to Thomas Bayard, the Secretary of State, read like a diary of violence.
—Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2021
Those who accepted, agreed not to pursue legation action against Epstein's estate.
—Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2021
During the pandemic, the legation quickly switched to online events, bringing Moroccan musicians to audiences around the world and allowing those of us longing for an escape to whisk away, if just for an hour or two.
—Graham Cornwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2021
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.
Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
Perle not only greeted them but invited them to dinner that night with the legation's employees.
—CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025
Fortuitously, that morning, a random telephone call got through to the embassy from the U.S. legation in Berne.
—Sam Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2015
At issue are the diplomats who arrived from the Republic of Texas, the then-independent nation, to Washington, a then-foreign capital, in the mid-1800s to establish a legation – an outpost along the lines of an embassy – that ultimately helped secure Texas' annexation by the U.S.
—Tom Benning, Dallas News, 21 Sep. 2020
The Harrison administration in turn removed the US legation from Rome.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Oct. 2021
Handwritten letters in neat cursive from officials in the Chinese legation to Thomas Bayard, the Secretary of State, read like a diary of violence.
—Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2021
Those who accepted, agreed not to pursue legation action against Epstein's estate.
—Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2021
During the pandemic, the legation quickly switched to online events, bringing Moroccan musicians to audiences around the world and allowing those of us longing for an escape to whisk away, if just for an hour or two.
—Graham Cornwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2021
Cite this Entry
“Legation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legation. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
legation
noun
le·ga·tion
li-ˈgā-shən
1
: a group of representatives sent to a foreign country
especially
: one headed by a minister
2
: the official residence and office of such a group
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share