ambassador

• ambassadour (obsolete)
• embassador (archaic)
• embassadour (obsolete)

From Middle English ambassadore, from Anglo-Norman ambassadeur, ambassateur, from Old Italian ambassatore, ambassadore, from Old Occitan ambaisador (“ambassador”), derivative of ambaissa (“service, mission, errand”), from Latin ambasiator, from Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌱𐌰𐌷𐍄𐌹 (andbahti, “service, function”), from Proto-Germanic *ambahtiją (“service, office”), derivative of Proto-Germanic *ambahtaz (“servant”), from Gaulish ambaxtos ("servant"; also the source of Latin ambactus (“vassal, servant, dependent”)), from Proto-Celtic *ambaxtos (“servant”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂mbʰi-h₂eǵ- (“drive around”), from *h₂mbʰi- (“around”) + *h₂eǵ- (“to drive”). More at umbe, agent.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /æmˈbæs.ə.də(ɹ)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /æmˈbæs.ə.dɚ/, /æmˈbæs.əˌdɔɹ/

ambassador (plural ambassadors)

1. A minister of the highest rank sent to a foreign court to represent there his sovereign or country. (Sometimes called ambassador-in-residence)
   • 1982, Orville T. Murphy, Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes: French Diplomacy in the Age of Revolution, 1719-1787:

     Vergenne'fury reached its height when the priest tried to involve the English ambassador.

2. An official messenger and representative.
   • 1856, Mrs. William Busk, Mediæval Popes, Emperors, Kings, and Crusaders: Or, Germany, Italy and Palestine, from A.D. 1125 to A.D. 1268‎, volume IV, London: Hookham and Sons, OCLC 2480341, page 294:

     The new accusation brought by Urban against Manfred of murdering his sister-in-law's embassador – it may be observed that, tacitly, he acquits him of parricide, fratricide, and nepoticide – requires a little explanation.

3. A corporate representative, often the public face of the company.

   As front hall porter, you are an ambassador for the hotel.

• In English the preferred construction is (Nationality) ambassador to (Country) (the French ambassador to the United States) or ambassador of (Sending Country) to (Receiving Country) (the ambassador of France to the United States).

• embassy

• consul
• high commissioner