What does "embassy" mean?

1. (the building) the official building in a foreign country where an ambassador and their staff work. 2. (the group of officials) a group of officials who represent their own country while living in another country. 3. (the role or mission) the job or specific mission of an ambassador.

embassy

US //ˈɛmbəsi// UK //ˈɛmbəsˌi// em·bassy

1 the building (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the official building in a foreign country where an ambassador and their staff work.

the official residence or office of an ambassador and their diplomatic staff in a foreign capital.

Example

I had to go to the embassy to get a new passport after mine was stolen.

Example

Protesters gathered outside the embassy gates to deliver a formal petition to the ambassador regarding the recent trade restrictions.
- consulate
- chancery
2 the group of officials (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a group of officials who represent their own country while living in another country.

a body of diplomatic representatives, led by an ambassador, who permanently represent a sovereign state in another state.

Example

The embassy held a party to celebrate their national holiday with local leaders.

Example

The embassy issued a statement advising all citizens currently residing in the region to register their contact details with the consulate.
- diplomatic mission
- delegation

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3 the role or mission (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

the job or specific mission of an ambassador.

the function, duty, or specific mission entrusted to an ambassador or diplomatic envoy.

Example

He was sent on a special embassy to negotiate the peace treaty.

Example

The success of the embassy depended entirely on the envoy's ability to navigate the complex social etiquette of the imperial court.

Origin

Modern variant of obsolete ambassy, from Middle French ambassee (“mission, embassy”), from Old French ambascee (also enbassee (“message for a high official, official mission”)) from Old Italian ambasciata, from Old Occitan ambaissada (“embassy”), derived from ambaissa (“message”), from Late Latin ambactia (“service rendered”) (attested also as ambascia, from Proto-Germanic ambahtiją (“service”), ambahtaz (“follower, servant”), from Gaulish ambaxtos (“dependant, vassal”, literally “one who is sent around”), from Proto-Celtic ambaxtos (“servant”), from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi-h₂eǵ- (“drive around”); compare Latin ambactus, Old Irish amus, amsach (“mercenary, servant”), Welsh amaeth (“tenant farm”)). Doublet of ambassade.