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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legate
Noun
-
Patrick O’Donnell is a paint expert and international brand ambassador for Farrow & Ball, a paint and wallpaper manufacturer.—
-
Israeli media identified the official as Tzachi Braverman, Netanyahu’s chief of staff, who is expected to start as the next ambassador to the United Kingdom in the coming months.—
Noun
-
This talk is presented as both a Tiger Talk and as part of the IFFR Pro Dialogues program of industry panels for industry and press delegates at the festival.—
-
China sent close to 800 delegates.—
Noun
-
On board was an American diplomat, Francis Loomis, the US envoy to Venezuela.—
-
Nicolás Maduro, right, with Qiu Xiaoqi, China’s special envoy for Latin America, earlier this month.—
Noun
-
The pork is marinated for 12 to 24 hours in a special blend of Mexican spices mixed with orange juice, according to a restaurant representative, and cooked for five to six hours.—
-
Her representatives quickly shut down the claims.—
Noun
-
The First Lady, Janet, serves as education minister; Museveni’ son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is Chief of Defence Forces.—
-
Palka, with a flattop and clean shave, looks more like a Marine than a minister.—
Cite this Entry
“Legate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legate. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
