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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On Tuesday morning, students will be greeted by faculty, student ambassadors, and the Pali High band as families, alumni, and neighbors line the streets to welcome the campus back to life.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Learn how to channel the same luxurious look seen in Jenner's iconic home tour, straight from the paint brand's ambassador and color consultant himself.—
Tessa Cooper,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In 2020, delegates dipped into communal fondue fountains as COVID-19 circulated in plain view not far away.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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The Articles of Association of 1774 was signed by all 53 delegates urging colonists to boycott British goods, marking the Continental Congress's first protest against Britain.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Separately, Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev will hold talks with Witkoff on economic issues, Peskov added.—
KAMILA HRABCHUK,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
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Starpower is a currency that goes a long way, as brands race to claim Hollywood heavyweights and hot young things, curating an envoy of beautiful, young, relevant people who are said to represent the brand’s interests and values.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The first team meeting included greetings by several athletic department representatives, from the administration and academics to the equipment and training rooms to strength and conditioning.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Conservative bloggers, talk-radio hosts, and cable networks invited a small and vocal contingent of white South Africans—sometimes people associated with Orania, sometimes representatives of lobby groups for Afrikaner interests—to bear witness to a specific version of this transition.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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India's minister of petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri has increased the number of partner nations supplying it with oil and gas to over 40.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Its defense minister last week reported some 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by about 2 million Ukrainians.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legate. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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