Ambassador Definition

ăm-băsə-dər, -dôr

ambassadors

noun

ambassadors

A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time.

American Heritage

The highest-ranking diplomatic representative appointed by one country or government to represent it in another.

Webster's New World

A diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations.

American Heritage

A special representative: an ambassador-at-large is one accredited to no particular country; an ambassador extraordinary is one on a special diplomatic mission; an ambassador plenipotentiary is one having the power to make treaties.

Webster's New World

An authorized messenger or representative.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Ambassador

Noun

Singular:

ambassador

Plural:

ambassadors

Origin of Ambassador

From Middle English ambassadore, from Anglo-Norman ambassaduer, ambassateur, from Old Italian ambassatore, ambassadore, from Old Provençal ambaisador (“ambassador”), derivative of ambaissa (“service, mission, errand”), from Gothic (andbahti, “service, function”), from Proto-Germanic *ambahtiją (“service, office”), derivative of Proto-Germanic *ambahtaz (“servant”), of Celtic origin, from Gaulish *ambactos (“servant”), from Proto-Indo-European *ambʰi- (“around”) + Proto-Indo-European *aǵ- (“to drive”). More at umbe, agent.

From Wiktionary
Middle English ambassadour from Old French ambassadeur from Medieval Latin ambactia mission from Latin ambactus servant ultimately of Celtic origin ag- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition