chargé d'affaires

[ shahr-zhey duh-fair, shahr-zhey; French shar-zhey da-fer ]
/ ʃɑrˈʒeɪ dəˈfɛər, ˈʃɑr ʒeɪ; French ʃar ʒeɪ daˈfɛr /

noun, plural char·gés d'af·faires [shahr-zheyz duh-fair, shahr-zheyz; French shar-zhey da-fer] /ʃɑrˈʒeɪz dəˈfɛər, ˈʃɑr ʒeɪz; French ʃar ʒeɪ daˈfɛr/. Government.

Also called chargé d'affaires ad interim. an official placed in charge of diplomatic business during the temporary absence of the ambassador or minister.
an envoy to a state to which a diplomat of higher grade is not sent.

Origin of chargé d'affaires

1760–70; < French: literally, one in charge of things

Words nearby chargé d'affaires

British Dictionary definitions for charge d'affaires ad interim

chargé d'affaires
/ (ˈʃɑːʒeɪ dæˈfɛə, French ʃarʒe dafɛr) /

noun plural chargés d'affaires (ˈʃɑːʒeɪ, -ʒeɪz, French ʃarʒe)

the temporary head of a diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador or minister
the head of a diplomatic mission of the lowest level

Word Origin for chargé d'affaires

C18: from French: (one) charged with affairs