plenipotentiary

UK: /ˌplɛnɪpəˈtɛnʃərɪ/

US: /ˌplɛnəpəˈtɛnʃiˌɛri, -ʃəri/

US: (plen′ə pə ten′shē er′ē, -shə rē)

Inflections of 'plenipotentiary' (n): npl: plenipotentiaries

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

plen•i•po•ten•ti•ar•y /ˌplɛnəpəˈtɛnʃiˌɛri, -ʃəri/   n., pl. -ar•ies, adj. 
n. [countable]

1. Government a diplomat given full power to conduct business for someone else.

adj. 

2. Government having been given full power or authority, as a diplomatic agent.

See -plen-, -pot-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

plen•i•po•ten•ti•ar•y  (plen′ə pə ten′shē er′ē, -shə rē), n., pl. -ar•ies, adj. 
n. 

1. Government a person, esp. a diplomatic agent, invested with full power or authority to transact business on behalf of another.

adj. 

2. Government invested with full power or authority, as a diplomatic agent.
3. conferring or bestowing full power, as a commission.
4. absolute or full, as power.

• Medieval Latin plēnipotentiārius. See plenipotent, -i-, -ary
• 1635–45

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

plenipotentiary / ˌplɛnɪpəˈtɛnʃərɪ/ adjective

1. (esp of a diplomatic envoy) invested with or possessing full power or authority
2. conferring full power or authority
3. (of power or authority) full; absolute

noun ( -aries)

1. a person invested with full authority to transact business, esp a diplomat authorized to represent a country
   See also envoy11

Etymology: 17th Century: from Medieval Latin plēnipotentiārius, from Latin plēnus full + potentia power