plenipotentiary
1 synonym for plenipotentiary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person given complete authority to act on behalf of a government, especially in diplomatic negotiations.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
plenipotent
How to use plenipotentiary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
plenipotentiary powers
minister plenipotentiary
plenipotentiary authority
act as a plenipotentiary
This is a formal, largely diplomatic term rather than everyday vocabulary.
Etymology
The word comes from Medieval Latin plenipotentiarius, meaning someone holding full power. That in turn goes back to Late Latin plenipotens, formed by joining plenus, meaning full, with potens, meaning powerful or mighty.
Full origin of plenipotentiary →Frequently asked questions
What does plenipotentiary mean?
It describes a person, often a diplomat, who has been given full authority to act and make binding decisions on behalf of a government or ruler.
Is plenipotentiary only used for diplomats?
It is most commonly used for diplomatic agents, but it can describe anyone formally invested with complete authority to handle a particular matter.
Why does plenipotentiary sometimes come after the noun, as in Minister Plenipotentiary?
This placement follows an older pattern found in some legal and diplomatic titles, where the adjective trails the noun it describes.
