noun
legate
LEH-giht
noun
1
An official representative sent by the pope on a special church mission.
"The pope dispatched a legate to negotiate with the emperor."
2
An ambassador or official envoy.
"The king received the foreign legate with full ceremony."
How to Use Legate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn official envoy, historically often representing the pope or a Roman governor.
When to use it
A formal, mostly historical or religious term — not everyday vocabulary.
Word Forms
legates plural, legates plural, Legates plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “legate”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pope dispatched a _____ to negotiate with the emperor.
Etymology
From Latin lēgātus, "one sent as an envoy," from lēgō, "to send on a mission" or "to bequeath."