consul

1 of 2

noun (1)

con·​sul ˈkän(t)-səl 

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

consulship

ˈkän(t)-səl-ˌship 

noun

consulship

2 of 2

noun (2)

con·​sul·​ship ˈkän(t)-səl-ˌship 

: the office or term of office of a consul : consulate sense 2

Examples of consul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The governor of Morelos also met with the Spanish consul, Marcos Rodríguez Cantero, to offer more information about the case. — Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

Then the consul general and the honorary consuls will get to speak. — Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Patrolling in pairs and marked by their black patent leather tricorn hats, the Guardia Civil sometimes forced refugees back into France but more often threw them into spartan jails until the British or the American consul sent for them. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026

The sultan learned about the American colonists’ war for independence indirectly, through the local French consul and European reports. — Scott Spires Britannica Editors June 23, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing consul

• consul general
• vice-consul

Rhymes for consul

• tonsil
• proconsul

Kids Definition

consul

noun

con·​sul ˈkän(t)-səl 

1

: either of two chief officials of the ancient Roman republic who were elected each year

2

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

consular

-s(ə-)lər 

adjective

consulship

-səl-ˌship 

noun

Legal Definition

consul

noun

con·​sul ˈkän-səl 

: 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

consular

-sə-lər 

adjective

consulship noun