consul

con·sul

noun \ˈkän(t)-səl\

Definition of CONSUL

1

a : either of two annually elected chief magistrates of the Roman republic b : one of three chief magistrates of the French republic from 1799 to 1804

2

: an official appointed by a government to reside in a foreign country to represent the commercial interests of citizens of the appointing country

— con·sul·ar \-s(ə-)lər\ adjective

— con·sul·ship \-səl-ˌship\ noun

Origin of CONSUL

Middle English, from Latin; perhaps akin to Latin consulere to consult

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism