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

• agent
• ambassador
• delegate
• emissary
• legate
• minister
• representative

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

President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff meet with Iranian officials for five round of talks aimed at reaching a deal. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 14 June 2025

Steve Witkoff, the president's Middle East envoy, was set to hold a sixth round of talks with Iran in the Gulf state of Oman on Sunday. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 13 June 2025

Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East, is expected to meet with Iran for a sixth round of negotiations in the upcoming days, with a meeting tentatively scheduled for Sunday between Witkoff and Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi. —Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2025

In an interview on Turkish television on June 2, the U.S. special envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, revealed that the U.S. will reduce its military base in Syria from eight bases to a mere one. —Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1635, 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