AMBASSADOR

ambassador. 1. A diplomatic officer of the highest rank, usu. designated by a government as

its resident repre-sentative in a foreign state. • Ambassadors represent the sovereign as well as the

nation  and  enjoy  many  privileges  while  abroad  in  their  official  capacity,  including  immunity.

Ambassadors  are  distinguished  from  ministers  and  envoys,  who  represent  only  the  state  where

they  are  from  and  not the  sovereign.  Ambassadors  are also  generally  distinguished  from  certain

legates who have only ecclesiastical authority. But the papal nuncio and some legates, such as the

legate a latere, bear the rank of ambassador. See NUNCIO; LEGATE. [Cases: Ambassadors and

Consuls    1–8.  C.J.S.  Ambassadors  and  Consuls  §§  2–32.]  2.  A  representative  appointed  by

another. 3. An unofficial or nonappointed representative. — Also spelled (archaically) embassador.

— ambassadorial,adj. — ambassadorship,n.

ambassador  extraordinary.An  ambassador  who  is  employed  for  a  particular  purpose  or

occasion and has limited discretionary powers. Cf. ambassador plenipotentiary.

ambassador leger.See resident ambassador.

ambassador ordinary.See resident ambassador.

ambassador plenipotentiary.An ambassador who has unlimited discretionary powers to act as

a sovereign’s or government’s deputy, esp. to carry out a particular task, such as treaty negotiations.

— Also termed minister plenipotentiary; envoy plenipotentiary. Cf. ambassador extraordinary.

ordinary ambassador.See resident ambassador.

resident  ambassador.An  ambassador  who  resides  in  a  foreign  country  as  the  permanent

representative of a sovereign or nation. • A resident ambassador has the right to request a personal

interview  with  the  host  nation’s  head  of  state.  —  Also  termed  ambassador  leger;  ordinary

ambassador; ambassador ordinary. [Blacks Law 8th]