Dictionary

chargé d'affaires

noun char·gé d'af·faires \(ˌ)shär-ˌzhā-də-ˈfer\

: a person who takes the place of an ambassador when the ambassador is away

: a person with a lower rank than an ambassador who works as a diplomat in countries where no ambassador is assigned

plural chargés d'affaires \-ˌzhā-də-, -ˌzhāz-də-\

Full Definition of CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES

1
:  a subordinate diplomat who substitutes for an absent ambassador or minister
2
:  a diplomat inferior in rank to an ambassador or minister who heads a mission when no ambassador or minister is assigned
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Origin of CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES

French, literally, one charged with affairs
First Known Use: 1767

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