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

Since then, Kailasa had popped up now and again when its emissaries caused embarrassment for politicians around the world. —Mujib Mashal, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025

There are, however, some officials who as needed can act as emissaries, even if the cardinals themselves cannot leave until a successful ballot is cast, meaning one cardinal receives two-thirds of the votes and is elected pope. —Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025

The last step is for that space-faring species to really go for it, sending themselves or their robotic emissaries far and wide, colonizing every available corner of the galaxy, and if they are sufficiently motivated, the Universe. —ArsTechnica, 26 Mar. 2025

But her ordeal represents the reality for hundreds of thousands of Americans who rely on government services being targeted by Trump and his billionaire emissary Elon Musk. —Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin emissarius, from emissus, past participle of emittere

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for emissary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

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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)