emissary

noun

em·​is·​sary ˈe-mə-ˌser-ē 

-ˌse-rē

plural emissaries

1

: one designated as the agent of another : representative

2

: a secret agent

Did you know?

An emissary is often a person who is sent somewhere in order to act as a representative. The key in that sentence is sent; emissary derives from Latin emissus, the past participle of the verb emittere, meaning "to send out."  By the early 17th century, it was a commonly seen and heard word. An earlier common emittere descendant is emit. In addition, emittere itself comes from Latin mittere ("to send"), which is an ancestor of many English words, including admit, commit, mission, omit, permit, premise, promise, and submit.

Did you know?

Like missionaries, emissaries are sent on missions. However, emissaries are more likely to be representing governments, political leaders, and nonreligious institutions, and an emissary's mission is usually to negotiate or to gather information. So a president may send a trusted emissary to a war-torn region to discuss peace terms. A company's CEO may send an emissary to check out another company that they may be thinking of buying. And a politician may send out an emissary to persuade a wealthy individual to become a supporter.

Synonyms

• agent
• ambassador
• delegate
• envoy
• legate
• minister
• representative

Examples of emissary in a Sentence

She acted as the president's personal emissary to the union leaders.

most of the industrialized nations of the world sent emissaries to the conference on global warming

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, in this election year, Sanders will be Biden’s most powerful emissary to progressives and younger voters — a task that will test the senator’s pull with the sectors of the Democratic Party most disillusioned with the president and his policies, especially on Gaza. —Seung Min Kim, Fortune, 7 May 2024

In 1801, the governing Turkish authority apparently informed an emissary of Elgin’s in Athens that fallen pieces of the temple could be excavated and removed. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024

European emissaries like the Prince of Denmark and Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, also visited. —Elian Peltier, New York Times, 4 May 2024

Some of her colleagues will also play the role of emissary for UBS clients, lending their influence to bring them before the right dealers. —Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024

Goodwin framed his role not as one of domination and takeover but, instead, as an emissary from a possible future. —Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

His participation came with a degree of symbolism, as this was the first time a Cannes emissary made the trek, though no more than a handful of the 55 projects presented this year would be ready for May. —Ben Croll, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024

But in private, Iranian emissaries have adopted a more measured tone. —Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024

Biden’s emissaries have fanned out on bended knee to apologize for his support for Israel. —Jeff Robbins, Orange County Register, 15 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin emissarius, from emissus, past participle of emittere

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

emissary

noun

em·​is·​sary ˈem-ə-ˌser-ē 

plural emissaries

: a person sent on a mission to represent another

Legal Definition

emissary

noun

em·​is·​sary ˈe-mə-ˌser-ē 

plural emissaries

: a representative usually empowered to act more or less independently (as in collecting or conveying information or in negotiating)