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embassy

embassy

466 3.3
A building and people who represent their country in a foreign country
  • noun
  • /ˈɛm.bə.si/
: embajada
  • Victor Bradley of the Canadian Embassy in Washington has also been most helpful.
  • U.S. embassy
  • Chinese embassy
  • American embassy

I was not allowed to call my embassy, nothing.

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Examples

  • She went to the embassy to apply for a visa before her trip to Germany.

  • When I meet him in Saigon, he works in the embassy of America.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I think that is the same case that our embassy spoke to us about.

  • I was not allowed to call my embassy, nothing.

  • "Do you think the embassy will mind that we're living in a hotel?

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I'll go down to the embassy immediately.

  • There is the North Korean embassy just over there.

  • But you told the man from the embassy that you had American citizenship.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • U.S. officials had visited the new Chinese embassy on a number of occasions in recent years.

    Academic text (1999)
  • In 1969 I was invited by a friend of mine to an American Embassy party in Tokyo.

Synonyms

consulate
vsembassy
  • Formal
156 6.3

A building where a foreign country's official helps its citizens with passports and legal problems

focuses on an ambassadorial office handling full diplomatic representation
diplomatic mission
vsembassy
  • Specialized
14 3.9

A group of people sent by one country to represent it in another at an embassy or consulate

focuses specifically on the permanent office led by an ambassador
legation
vsembassy
  • Archaic
3 9.9

A permanent diplomatic office in another country led by a minister rather than an ambassador

is led by an ambassador and therefore has higher diplomatic rank
foreign mission
vsembassy
  • Formal
1 5.3

A permanent office in another country that represents its government and helps with official relations

is the specific resident office led by an ambassador and staff
High Commission
vsembassy
  • UK
1 6.4

An official office that represents one Commonwealth country in another

serves the same diplomatic role but for all countries generally
1 4.3

A government building where diplomats live and work, like an embassy or consulate

is about the official staff and their workplace, not only the structure
embassage
vsembassy
  • Archaic
9.9

The office and staff who represent a country in a foreign land

is the standard modern spelling and usage form

How Official

embassy
466 3.3
diplomatic mission
  • Specialized
14 3.9
consulate
  • Formal
156 6.3

Surface Forms

embassy singular
embassies plural

Etymology

Embassy comes from the same root as ambassador, a word that once meant someone 'sent' on a mission. So an embassy is the place and team where a country's representatives work abroad and speak for their government.