as in ambassador
a person sent on a mission to represent another
the legate was charged with a list of objectives to accomplish on behalf of his country
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Recent Examples of legate
However, papal legates—diplomatic representatives—continue their external functions.
—
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
In the 1520s Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal legate of England, drove forward a similar program of moral and financial reform, winding up a further 29 monasteries.
—Crawford Gribben, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022
The Franciscan Plano Carpini, who traveled the empire as papal legate in 1246, described a draconian tax collector demanding one in three boys from every Russian family, as well as unmarried women.
—Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021
The wife of the ailing emperor sends an Imperial legate — her nephew — to investigate.
—N. K. Jemisin, New York Times, 14 July 2017
That Francis forced Festing’s resignation without deigning to pick up Burke’s gauntlet was further vindication of the Pope, who will soon appoint his own legate to run the Order.
—James Carroll, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2017
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
In the 1520s Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal legate of England, drove forward a similar program of moral and financial reform, winding up a further 29 monasteries.
—Crawford Gribben, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022
The Franciscan Plano Carpini, who traveled the empire as papal legate in 1246, described a draconian tax collector demanding one in three boys from every Russian family, as well as unmarried women.
—Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021
The wife of the ailing emperor sends an Imperial legate — her nephew — to investigate.
—N. K. Jemisin, New York Times, 14 July 2017
That Francis forced Festing’s resignation without deigning to pick up Burke’s gauntlet was further vindication of the Pope, who will soon appoint his own legate to run the Order.
—James Carroll, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legate
Noun
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The position requires approval from the Senate and comes with an ambassador title.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Starmer — who is facing relentless domestic criticism over a flailing economy and his appointment of the disgraced Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, while grappling with a surging far-right opposition — will be praying for a smooth visit.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This latest polling is being released as the 2026 election draws closer and as Republican delegates select nominees for various races at the Massachusetts GOP Convention set for Saturday at the Worcester DCU Center.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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But delegates here at CONVERGE LIVE have emphasized that the loss of trust is a dangerous outcome of the war that will take years to rebuild.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The cherry on top for many came this week with Israel’s appointment of George Deek as its first special envoy to the Christian world.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
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The White House on Friday had said that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be going to Islamabad.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At the same commission meeting, officials urged the Fontainebleau to meet with the neighborhood association and voted to have Meiner, the mayor, act as the city’s representative in the discussions.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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Following a political career spanning five decades, Webster is not seeking re-election as the representative for Florida’s 11th district, which takes in a wide swath of west Central Florida.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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When asked for comment, OpenAI pointed to its letter to Canada’s minister of artificial intelligence following the Tumbler Ridge shooting.—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
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Wang arrived in Thailand on Thursday for a three-day visit following meetings with government ministers in Cambodia focused on enhancing their countries' political and security ties.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legate. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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