as in ambassador
a person sent on a mission to represent another
the legate was charged with a list of objectives to accomplish on behalf of his country
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Recent Examples of legate
However, papal legates—diplomatic representatives—continue their external functions.
—
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
In the 1520s Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal legate of England, drove forward a similar program of moral and financial reform, winding up a further 29 monasteries.
—Crawford Gribben, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022
The Franciscan Plano Carpini, who traveled the empire as papal legate in 1246, described a draconian tax collector demanding one in three boys from every Russian family, as well as unmarried women.
—Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021
The wife of the ailing emperor sends an Imperial legate — her nephew — to investigate.
—N. K. Jemisin, New York Times, 14 July 2017
That Francis forced Festing’s resignation without deigning to pick up Burke’s gauntlet was further vindication of the Pope, who will soon appoint his own legate to run the Order.
—James Carroll, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2017
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
In the 1520s Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal legate of England, drove forward a similar program of moral and financial reform, winding up a further 29 monasteries.
—Crawford Gribben, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022
The Franciscan Plano Carpini, who traveled the empire as papal legate in 1246, described a draconian tax collector demanding one in three boys from every Russian family, as well as unmarried women.
—Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021
The wife of the ailing emperor sends an Imperial legate — her nephew — to investigate.
—N. K. Jemisin, New York Times, 14 July 2017
That Francis forced Festing’s resignation without deigning to pick up Burke’s gauntlet was further vindication of the Pope, who will soon appoint his own legate to run the Order.
—James Carroll, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legate
Noun
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Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes.—
Rabbi Moishe Kievman,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
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But on March 6, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said at least 1,332 people had been killed since the war began.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Berset, along with delegates from around a dozen other nations, will officially sign the co-pro treaty into force at Series Mania.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
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Corderman proposed to Tuesday’s legislative work group of delegates and senators the transfer of some slot machines from six existing casinos.—
Bryan P. Sears,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The plan was presented to Iran by Pakistan as a third-party intermediary, special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
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Politico reported that Mazzara is among 10 staffers who followed former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to the State Department after she was fired this month from DHS and given a new role as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On deck to present was PMB Capital partner Taylor Baird and Edged Data Centers chief investment officer John Callahan, along with representatives from the city of Fort Worth.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
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Three senior Iranian sources told Reuters on Tuesday that Qalibaf could be the nation’s representative in hypothetical negotiations, but that only preliminary communications have occurred via intermediaries in Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The plaques, which were more than 100 years old, honored many people including ministers from the early 1800s and American Revolutionary soldiers.—
Paul Burton,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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India’s finance minister Nirmal Sitharaman said the country has cut the special excise on petrol and diesel for domestic consumption by 10 rupees per litre each, in a post on X on Friday.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legate. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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