Skip to main content
consulate

consulate

159 6.3
A building where a foreign country's official helps its citizens with passports and legal problems
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒnsjʊlɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : consulado
  • So he reached out to the consulate by himself, and in three months, they issued the visa.
  • U.S. consulate
  • embassies and consulates
  • Consulate General

And though some of their fighters attacked the consulate as well.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • It's a map of Mexico and where the US consulates are located.

  • The consulate in London offers various services to American citizens living in the UK.

  • No, I need to talk to someone at the consulate who can help me.

  • These men also work for the consulate.

  • Get to the American consulate.

  • Then, as they continued toward the consulate, he noticed security cameras on the building.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I had to go to Milan, find where the Canadian consulate was located.

  • You need to get him at the consulate in Istanbul, right?

  • I was introduced to her by an old diplomat at a reception at the consulate in Paris.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The Finnish consulate has contacted the State Department.

Synonyms

embassy
vsconsulate
574 3.3

A building and people who represent their country in a foreign country

is smaller and mainly helps nationals abroad rather than leading diplomatic relations
diplomatic mission
vsconsulate
  • Specialized
13 3.9

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

is a specific building focused on serving citizens rather than a sending group
legation
vsconsulate
  • Archaic
3 9.9

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

is a local office focused on citizen services, not a mission headed by ministers
diplomatic building
vsconsulate
4.3

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

is focused on helping citizens and providing official assistance to them
embassage
vsconsulate
  • Archaic
9.9

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

is focused on assisting citizens and handling routine citizen services abroad
foreign mission
vsconsulate
  • Formal
5.3

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

is mainly meant to help citizens and provide local services, not lead representation

How Official

embassy
574 3.3
consulate
  • Formal
159 6.3

Surface Forms

consulate singular
consulates plural

Morphology

consulate = consul (transparent) = consul + ate

The meaning 'building or office of a consul' follows directly from 'consul' + the nominalizing suffix '-ate'.

Etymology

Consulate comes from consul, a Roman official, and is related to the English verb consult, from a root that means 'to advise'. So a consulate is the place where a consul helps and advises a country's citizens abroad, which is why it is an office for help and official matters.