charge d'affaires

char·gé d'af·faires  (shär-zh d-fâr, dä-)

n. pl. char·gés d'affaires (-zh, -zhz)

1. A diplomat who temporarily substitutes for an absent ambassador or minister.

2. A diplomat of the lowest rank, accredited by one government to the minister of foreign affairs of another.

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[French : chargé, charged, in charge + de, with, of + affaires, affairs.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

charge d'affaires - the official temporarily in charge of a diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador diplomat, diplomatist - an official engaged in international negotiations