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 of emissary

• ambassador
• envoy
• representative
• delegate
• minister

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

During this term, the Harvard alumnus served as the Board’s representative to the Group of Twenty (G-20) and as an emissary to the emerging and advanced economies in Asia. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025

The members of the hive, often represented in their conversations with Carol by an emissary played by the ominously serene Karolina Wydra, are all very happy to share in one peaceful, collaborative utopia on earth. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025

According to several high-level sources in the production, Lin had hit his breaking point over the steadily increasing creative tensions with Diesel, as well as difficulties with the star’s sister/producer, Samantha Vincent, who often acted as Diesel’s emissary. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025

Mod plays Laila, an acerbic and anarchic Black Doves agent who is sent to help Helen on a mission; Ceesay plays Mr Conteh, a Black Doves executive with suspicious motivations and Riley plays Patrick, an emissary from a mysterious organization, who offers Sam a lifeline. —Peter White, Deadline, 18 Nov. 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)