English Reference
noun

envoy

n.
US /ˈɑnvɔɪ/ UK /ˈɛnvɔɪ/ en·voy UK spelling envoy's, envoy's

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    a person sent by a government to represent their country in another place.

    a diplomatic agent sent by a state as a representative; technically, a diplomat ranking just below an ambassador.

    Simple

    The president sent a special envoy to the peace talks to help reach an agreement.

    In context

    The United Nations envoy arrived in the capital to mediate between the warring factions and oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced FormalLiterary

    someone who carries an important message or performs a task for a leader.

    a person acting as a messenger or agent, often for a high-profile figure or organization.

    Simple

    The king's envoy delivered the letter to the neighboring city.

    In context

    The corporate envoy was tasked with delivering the sensitive merger proposal directly to the board of directors.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency TechnicalLiterary

    a short final part at the end of a poem or book.

    a short concluding stanza of a poem, such as a ballade, often serving as a dedication or summary.

    Simple

    The poet added a short envoy at the end of the book to thank his friends.

    In context

    The ballade concludes with a four-line envoy addressed directly to the prince, summarizing the moral of the preceding stanzas.

    Usage

    Often spelled 'envoi' in modern literary criticism.

After meeting with the US envoy, Hamas says it called on the Board of Peace to ‘compel’ Israel to accept the plan.

Al Jazeera· 16 Aug 2026

The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, continues to engage the parties.

UN News· 10 Aug 2026

From French envoyé (“envoy, messenger”), from envoyer (“send”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated