consul

noun con·sul \ ˈkän(t)-səl \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

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

the American consul in Rome

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consular

play \ˈkän(t)-s(ə-)lər\ adjective

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consulship

play \ˈkän(t)-səl-ˌship\ noun

See consul defined for English-language learners

See consul defined for kids

Recent Examples of consul from the Web

In May, the Czech Republic reopened its honorary consulate in Jerusalem after it had been shuttered since 2016 following the death of the previous honorary consul.

— ariel kahana, Jewish Journal, "Slovakia declares it will move its embassy to Jerusalem," 5 July 2018
But one local faith group, along with Mexico's consul for Austin and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, disagree.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "'Zero tolerance' arrests put 13 in ICE custody, 'had nothing to do with immigration,' Texas sheriff says," 3 July 2018
Each migrant's identity must be carefully confirmed by an embassy's consul and supporting documents must be scrutinized, which can take several months.

— frances d'emilio, Fox News, "Italy vows to expel far more migrants, but it won't be easy," 22 June 2018
According to the next day's newspaper account, 3,000 soccer fans, including the British consul, were at Lighthouse.

— mike jensen, Philly.com, "In 1952, visit by Manchester more low-key," 18 June 2018
Here's the backstory: Domingo Milord, a Cuban consul, lived there with his wife, Paula (friendly reminder, it's called Villa Paula), for a few years.

— danielle tullo, House Beautiful, "Miami's Most Haunted House Is for Sale for Nearly $5 Million," 13 June 2018
Russia’s honorary consul, Mohammad Arsallah Khan, who belongs to a powerful business family in Pakistan’s northwest, said economic development is the best weapon against extremism.

— Washington Post, "Shifting alliances as Pakistan manages relationship with US," 27 Feb. 2018
One grandfather worked for British Petroleum, and the other was pro-consul at the British embassy.

— marcia desanctis, Town & Country, "The Strange Saga of Trump Winery," 14 Oct. 2016
Rokuichiro Michii, Japan’s consul-general in Boston, celebrated the opening of a satellite office in the Cambridge Innovation Center’s One Broadway location in Cambridge on May 8.

— jon chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "Retired SJC justice Bob Cordy is still busy writing his next chapter," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consul.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of consul

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

CONSUL Defined for English Language Learners

consul

noun

Definition of consul for English Language Learners

: a government official whose job is to live in a foreign country and protect and help the citizens of his or her own country who are traveling, living, or doing business there
: either one of two chief officials of the ancient Roman republic who were elected every year

CONSUL Defined for Kids

consul

noun con·sul \ ˈkän-səl \

Definition of consul for Students

: an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign country in order to look after the commercial interests of citizens of the appointing country

Law Dictionary

consul

noun con·sul \ ˈkän-səl \

legal Definition of consul

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

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