ENGLISH
REFERENCE

consul

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈkɑnsəɫ// UK //kˈɒnsʌl// con·sul Archaic

n. an official who lives in a foreign city to help people from their own country. They also help with business and travel documents like visas.

n. an official appointed by a government to reside in a foreign city to protect the state's commercial interests and assist its citizens. In historical contexts, refers to one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic.


SIMPLE

The consul helps citizens who lose their passports abroad.

CONTEXTUAL

After the local authorities detained the traveler, the consul arrived to ensure his legal rights were being respected.

COMPLEX

While an ambassador handles high-level political relations between nations, the consul focuses on administrative duties and the practical needs of expatriates within a specific district.

Origin

From Middle English consul, from Old English consul, from Latin cōnsul.

Usage

Often followed by 'of' to indicate the country represented ('the consul of France').

Pitfall

the council of the embassythe consul at the embassyLearners often confuse 'consul' (the person) with 'council' (a group of people who make decisions).

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