embassy

UK: /ˈɛmbəsi/ US: /ˈɛmbəsi/ ,(em′bə sē)

Inflections of 'embassy' (n): npl: embassies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

em•bas•sy /ˈɛmbəsi/   n. [countable] , pl. -sies. 

1. Government the official headquarters of an ambassador.
2. Government a mission or group of officials and workers who are headed by an ambassador.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

em•bas•sy  (em′bə sē), n., pl. -sies. 

1. Government a body of persons entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, esp. an ambassador and his or her staff.
2. Government the official headquarters of an ambassador.
3. Government the function or office of an ambassador.
4. Government a mission headed by an ambassador.

• Gaulish, equivalent. to amb- around, ambi- + -act- verbal adjective, adjectival of *ag- drive, lead; compare act, Welsh amaeth husbandman); compare ambassador
• Medieval Latin ambasciāre, derivative of ambascia service, office, derivative, by a Gmc intermediary (compare Gothic andbahti, Old High German ambahti) of Gallo-Latin ambactus retainer, servant (
• Middle French ambassee, Old French ambasce, ambaxee Old Provencal ambaissada, derivative of embayssar to send a delegate
• variant of ambassy 1570–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

embassy / ˈɛmbəsɪ/ noun ( -sies)

1. the residence or place of official business of an ambassador
2. an ambassador and his or her entourage collectively
3. the position, business, or mission of an ambassador
4. any important or official mission, duty, etc, esp one undertaken by an agent

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French ambassee, from Old Italian ambasciata, from Old Provençal ambaisada, ultimately of Germanic origin; see ambassador