envoy

noun

en·​voy ˈen-ˌvȯi  ˈän- 

1

a

: a minister plenipotentiary accredited to a foreign government who ranks between an ambassador and a minister resident

called also envoy extraordinary

b

: a person delegated to represent one government in its dealings with another

2

: messenger, representative

Synonyms of envoy

• ambassador
• delegate
• representative
• minister

Examples of envoy in a Sentence

the president sent the secretary of state as his personal envoy to gain the support of the country's allies

one of the hostage takers was chosen as the group's envoy for all dealings with the authorities

Recent Examples on the Web

The escalation risks renewing a war that has been largely dormant for almost four years and pits US allies in the Gulf against each other, according to April Longley Alley, a former adviser to the UN’s Yemen envoy. —Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 26 Dec. 2025

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Moscow was analyzing the documents on ending the war which were brought to Moscow by Russia’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev from the United States. —Reuters, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025

Fittingly, perhaps, England has adopted, as unofficial ambassador and strategic diplomatic envoy, a polite, anthropomorphic bear in a red hat and blue duffel coat. —Anna Russell, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

Trump chose Ric Grenell, his envoy for special missions, as the center's president. —Joey Garrison, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French envoyé, from past participle of envoyer to send, from Old French enveier

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

envoy

noun

en·​voy ˈen-ˌvȯi  ˈän- 

1

a

: a diplomatic representative who ranks between an ambassador and a minister

b

: a representative sent by one government to another

ambassadors and other envoys

2

: representative entry 2 sense 2, messenger