noun
Uncommon
consul
KON-suhl
Consul (noun) means an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect the interests of its citizens and businesses there. Example: “She reported the theft of her passport to the consul.”
noun
1
An official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect the interests of its citizens and businesses there.
"She reported the theft of her passport to the consul."
"The consul helped the stranded tourists arrange new travel documents."
"Our company asked the consul for advice about doing business abroad."
2
Historical: one of the two elected heads of state of the Roman Republic.
"Cicero served as consul in 63 BCE."
"Each year the Romans elected two consuls to lead the republic."
"The consul led the army out of the city at dawn."
How to use consul
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA government official who represents their country's interests in a foreign city.
Common pairings
the British consul
consul general
appoint a consul
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Word forms
- Plural
- consuls
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Can you complete this real example?
She reported the theft of her passport to the _____.
Etymology
From Latin consul, the title of the Roman Republic's highest elected officials.
Synonyms
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envoy
diplomat
representative
official
emissary
magistrate
councillor
early modern councilmen of southern France and Catalonia
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “consul” mean?
The word “consul” means an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect the interests of its citizens and businesses there. In plain terms, a government official who represents their country's interests in a foreign city.
How do you pronounce “consul”?
“Consul” is pronounced KON-suhl (/ˈkɑn.səl/ in IPA).
How do you use “consul” in a sentence?
Here is “consul” used in a sentence: “She reported the theft of her passport to the consul.”
What is another word for “consul”?
Words with a similar meaning to “consul” include councillor and early modern councilmen of southern France and Catalonia.
What part of speech is “consul”?
“Consul” is a noun.
Where does the word “consul” come from?
The word “consul” comes from Latin. From Latin consul, the title of the Roman Republic's highest elected officials.
Is “consul” a common word?
“Consul” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “consul” have?
“Consul” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect the interests of its citizens and businesses there.
What is the difference between a "consul" and an "ambassador"?
A consul is an official appointed to live in a foreign city and protect the interests of their country's citizens and businesses there, often handling practical matters like documents and local support. An ambassador typically represents their country's government at a higher diplomatic level, usually based in the capital city rather than a regional city.
What did a Roman consul do?
In ancient Rome, a consul was one of two elected heads of state of the Roman Republic, sharing the highest political and military authority. The two consuls served together and were elected for a limited term.
Is "consul" capitalized when referring to a specific official?
"Consul" is capitalized when it forms part of an official title before a name, such as "Consul Smith," but is lowercase when used as a general job description, as in "she works as a consul."
