Word
consul
Phoneticscon·sul, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑnsəɫ/
UK/kˈɒnsʌl/
Definitions
01diplomatic official
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an official who lives in a foreign city to look after the people and business interests of their own country.
n. an official appointed by a government to reside in a foreign city to promote and protect the commercial interests and welfare of its citizens.
“If you lose your passport while traveling, you should contact your local consul for help.”
“The consul spent the afternoon negotiating with local port authorities to resolve a dispute involving a merchant ship from his home country.”
Pitfall
The consul works at the embassy.
The consul works at the consulate.
An embassy is led by an ambassador in a capital city; a consul works in a consulate, often located in other major cities.
Synonyms
02ancient Roman leader
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical · Formal
n. one of the two top leaders of the government in ancient Rome.
n. one of the two annually elected chief magistrates of the Roman Republic who jointly ruled the state.
“In ancient Rome, a consul held power for only one year to prevent them from becoming a dictator.”
“The authority of the Roman consul was symbolized by the fasces, representing their power to maintain order and execute the law.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Former British consul Vincent Fean says Israel is acting unlawfully by demanding the UK close its consulate.” Etymology
From Middle English consul, from Old English consul, from Latin cōnsul.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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