diplomatic mission
- noun
- /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk ˈmɪʃən/
- Specialized
- The Nigerian government, in particular, was asked to reduce significantly the size of its diplomatic mission in Monrovia.
- sent a diplomatic mission
Examples
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The decision to grant the PLO a diplomatic mission also stemmed from economic pressure by the Arab countries.
Academic text (1992) -
This is a consulate ship on a diplomatic mission.
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Perhaps it's only a secret diplomatic mission.
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We're on a diplomatic mission.
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...goes abroad on a diplomatic mission
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The crime was committed on the grounds of a US diplomatic mission.
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The arrest occurred while he was on a diplomatic mission in Spain.
Academic text (1996) -
Worf shook himself to break the mood, to remind himself that this was a diplomatic mission.
Fiction book (1992) -
The Office immediately sent diplomatic missions throughout Latin America to examine potential locations for Rockefeller's proposed programs of internal improvements.
Academic text (2013) -
The arrest occurred while he was on a diplomatic mission in Spain.
Synonyms
A building and people who represent their country in a foreign country
A building where a foreign country's official helps its citizens with passports and legal problems
A permanent diplomatic office in another country led by a minister rather than an ambassador
An official office that represents one Commonwealth country in another
An official mission sent by an ambassador to negotiate
A permanent office in another country that represents its government and helps with official relations
How Official
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'diplomatic' (relating to diplomacy/foreign relations) with 'mission' (a formal assigned task or delegation), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to an official delegation or representation such as an embassy or consulate. This adjective+noun composition is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English patterns, making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.
Etymology
Diplomatic mission comes from the old practice of sending trusted messengers with official letters to other rulers. Those messengers had a mission to speak and act for their ruler, so today a diplomatic mission is the group a country sends to live in another country to 'represent' its interests.