Meaning & use
emissary
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Meanings
nouncountableformal
A person sent by a leader or government to carry a message or speak for them, especially in dealings with another country.
Grammar: Often followed by to or of: an emissary to the court.
Patterns
- an emissary to someone
- an emissary of someone
The king sent an emissary to negotiate peace.
She served as the president's emissary during the talks.
An emissary delivered the message to the rebel camp.
nouncountablefigurative
A person or thing that stands for or promotes a cause or group in another setting.
Grammar: A softer, more figurative use: she acted as an emissary for the school.
Patterns
- an emissary for something
The chef became an emissary for local food around the world.
Their band acted as emissaries of the city's music scene.
He was a goodwill emissary for the charity.
Word forms
| plural | emissaries |
|---|
Common combinations
- send an emissary
- They sent an emissary to open talks.
- special emissary
- The special emissary flew to the capital overnight.
- diplomatic emissary
- A diplomatic emissary met the foreign minister.
- emissary of peace
- He was welcomed as an emissary of peace.
- presidential emissary
- A presidential emissary arrived yesterday.
Synonyms and how they differ
- envoy
- Envoy is very close but often suggests a higher-ranking diplomat with a defined mission.
- messenger
- Messenger only carries a message and has no power to negotiate, while an emissary often speaks for the sender.
- ambassador
- An ambassador holds a permanent official post in a country, whereas an emissary is usually sent for a particular task.
- delegate
- Delegate is more common for people sent to a meeting or conference to vote or speak for a group.
Word family
- emissaries noun
- the plural form
- emit verb
- to send out
- emission noun
- something sent out, such as gas or light
- mission noun
- an important task or assignment
Commonly confused: emissary or emissions?
emissary vs emissions
Emissions are substances such as gases released into the air, while an emissary is a person sent on a mission. They share a root meaning to send out.
Practice
The prime minister sent a personal ____ to the neighboring country to restart the stalled talks.
Choose one answer.
An emissary is a person sent to represent a leader. An emission is a released substance and an emigrant is someone who leaves a country, so neither fits.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “emissary”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.