consul

noun con·sul \ˈkän(t)-səl\

: a government official whose job is to live in a foreign country and protect and help the citizens of his or her own country who are traveling, living, or doing business there

: either one of two chief officials of the ancient Roman republic who were elected every year

Full Definition of CONSUL

a : either of two annually elected chief magistrates of the Roman republic

b : one of three chief magistrates of the French republic from 1799 to 1804

: an official appointed by a government to reside in a foreign country to represent the commercial interests of citizens of the appointing country

— con·sul·ar \-s(ə-)lər\ adjective

— con·sul·ship \-səl-ˌship\ noun

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Origin of CONSUL

Middle English, from Latin; perhaps akin to Latin consulere to consult

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

CONSULAR Defined for Kids

consul

noun con·sul \ˈkän-səl\

Definition of CONSUL for Kids

: an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign country in order to look after the commercial interests of citizens of the appointing country