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consul

consul

43 6.6
An official who lives in a foreign city and helps protect their country's people and interests
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒn.səl/
  • Formal
: cónsul
  • The consul helped the citizens navigate the legal system while living abroad.
  • appoint a consul
  • U.S. consul
  • Italian consul

And the the German consul says here's a routine matter.

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Examples

  • The gentleman of distinction talking to him is Sir Robert MacDonald, the British consul general.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Richard Boucher, the U.S. consul general in Hong Kong, asserted that newspapers should publish rumors.

    Academic text (1999)
  • I have a message for you from the consul, your father.

  • Can you get the British consul on the phone, please?

  • I want to talk to the consul.

  • Meanwhile, the French consul is furious, and the police have come by for the third time now.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I got them from the consul of Hamburg.

  • "I went down to the legation and asked the consul general some questions.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Pakistan's Honorary Consul to Houston, Texas.

  • Over in the far corner is the American consul general, Virgil Cole, talking to China Bob's sister, Amy Chan.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

diplomat
vsconsul
  • Formal
222 3.6

An official person who represents their country abroad and negotiates with other countries

is appointed to live locally and protect nationals and their interests
envoy
vsconsul
75 6.6

A person sent by a government to talk and make agreements with another country

is a resident official focusing on ongoing protection and promotion of nationals
government agent
vsconsul
22 3.7

A person who works for the government and acts for it

is specifically appointed to live abroad to protect and promote nationals and interests
legate
vsconsul
  • Formal
4 9.5

A person who represents a government in another country

is a resident official focusing on protecting nationals and promoting local interests
minister
vsconsul
  • Formal
3 4.2

A diplomat who represents one country to another and ranks below an ambassador

is a resident official focusing on protecting nationals and promoting local interests
official emissary
vsconsul
  • Formal
1 7.2

A person who a government or organization sends to speak for it at official meetings

is based in a foreign city to help and protect nationals and interests
envoy extraordinary
vsconsul
  • Archaic
1 9.6

A government official sent on a special diplomatic mission with lower rank than an ambassador

is a resident official who continually protects and promotes nationals locally
diplomatic minister
vsconsul
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A government official who represents their country in another country and ranks below an ambassador

is a resident official focusing on protecting nationals and promoting local interests

How Senior

ambassador
  • Formal
907 3.7
consul
  • Formal
43 6.6

Surface Forms

consul singular
consuls plural

Etymology

Consul comes from the Latin consulere, which means 'to consult' or 'to look after' and is the same root as the English word consult. So a modern consul is a person sent to a foreign city to help and protect their country's people and interests.