envoy

en·voy

noun \ˈen-ˌvȯi, ˈän-\

Definition of ENVOY

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

: messenger, representative

Examples of ENVOY

1. <the president sent the secretary of state as his personal envoy to gain the support of the country's allies>
2. <one of the hostage takers was chosen as the group's envoy for all dealings with the authorities>

Origin of ENVOY

French envoyé, from past participle of envoyer to send, from Old French enveier

First Known Use: 1635

Related to ENVOY

Synonyms

agent, delegate, emissary, ambassador, legate, minister, representative

Related Words

ambassadress; attaché, chargé d'affaires, consul, deputy, diplomat, foreign minister, nuncio, procurator, proxy; apostle, evangelist, missionary; deputation, detachment, legation; courier, messenger; mouthpiece, spokesperson

Other Foreign Functionary Terms

count, despot, emir, wardrobe, yeoman

Rhymes with ENVOY

ahoy, alloy, annoy, bad boy, ball boy, batboy, B-boy, beachboy, bellboy, bell buoy, best boy, big boy, bok choy, borzoi, boy toy, busboy, callboy, carboy, charpoy, choirboy, convoy, cowboy, decoy, deploy, destroy, doughboy, employ, enjoy, flyboy, footboy, Hanoi, hautbois, highboy, homeboy, houseboy, killjoy, Khoikhoi, life buoy, linkboy, lowboy, McCoy, newsboy, old boy, page boy, playboy, plowboy, po'boy, postboy, potboy, Quemoy, Rob Roy, Saint Croix, Savoy, schoolboy, sepoy, stock boy, tallboy, tatsoi, teapoy, Tolstoy, tomboy, travois, viceroy