When you look at the words ambassador and embassador, you can instantly tell that one of these spellings is incorrect. But which is incorrect, and why do some people still use this spelling? Learning about ambassador vs embassador will answer these questions and explain the words further.
An ambassador is a high-ranking minister sent to a foreign court to represent a nation or sovereign. This noun also describes an official messenger or representative/corporate representative, like the public face of an establishment. In contrast, embassador is an archaic spelling of ambassador.
The difference between the words’ ambassador and embassador is quite evident in their spelling. However, if you dig deep into these words, you will learn about more differences. Thankfully, we have researched for you, so you only need to keep it here to know more about these terms, from meaning and usage to differences.
Definitions Of Ambassador And Embassador
The best way to distinguish between English words is by rushing to the dictionary. Your preferred dictionary will do more than define the word. For instance, it will explain which part of speech (noun, verb, adverb, adjective, etc.) the word belongs to and the elements that set it apart from similar words.
Besides the dictionary, you can find the definitions of English words from various sources, like the internet. However, you ought to be keen not to get information from an unreliable source. For this section, we researched the definitions of ambassador and embassador from various reliable sources to come up with the information you can depend on. So, here are the meanings of embassador and ambassador:
Definitions Of Ambassador
An ambassador is “a high-ranking diplomatic official appointed and accredited as a representative of a sovereign or a country in the residence of another country or government.” The government usually appoints an ambassador for a specific length of time.
A person holding this title can make rules and regulations, play critical roles in decision-making, and issue statements on behalf of a nation or a sovereign. This is an example sentence: “The ambassador’s entourage was not allowed to enter the White House.”
Another reputable source defines an ambassador as “a diplomatic official leading his or her country’s perpetual mission to specific international organizations, like the United Nations.” An example sentence is, “The ambassador got into trouble for missing the United Nations meeting in Geneva.”
A more straightforward definition of ambassador is “an authorized messenger or representative of a specific organization or company.” For example, “The company appointed a new ambassador in November last year.”
Another source defines an ambassador as “an unofficial representative of a course.” An example in a sentence is, “Jimmy is our company’s new goodwill ambassador.”
Another definition is “the public or official face of a company or an organization.” For example, “Adidas announced its season’s ambassador last night, and the public was not too excited about the company’s choices.”
Other sources define an ambassador as “a promoter of a particular activity.” It can be an official or unofficial activity. For example, “Timothy is a good ambassador for the tourism sector and should get the respect he deserves.”
Definitions Of Embassador
Embassador is an archaic form of the word ambassador. People who used this word before it became obsolete embraced the same definitions as “ambassador.” However, an ambassador is now the preferred word.
How To Properly Use Ambassador And Embassador In A Sentence
Using these words in sentences should not be tricky because their meanings are evident. The only difference is that the second spelling, “embassador”, is no longer accepted. Regardless, let us look at some guidelines for using the words ambassador and embassador in sentences:
How to Use the Word Ambassador
This word is a noun. So, use it as such in the following contexts:
- To refer to an accredited diplomat sent by a state or sovereign as its permanent representative in a foreign state or government. For example, “The American Ambassador to Russia left the country in the wake of the Ukrainian-Russian war.”
- To refer to a representative or an activity. For example, “Hanna is a perfect example of a love ambassador.”
- To refer to a person carrying information to another. For example, “The ambassador faced backlash for failing to share the news with the state on time.”
- To refer to a person that manages an organization or project. For example, “The ambassador earned his money at the end of the project.”
- To refer to a person who negotiates. For example, “Kelvin acted as the ambassador for David at the negotiation with the sports association.”
Note that the plural form of ambassador is ambassadors. So you can use this word in a sentence like in this example, “The ambassadors attended the meeting in Atlanta last month.”
How To Use The Word Embassador
As of now, this is an incorrect or obsolete spelling for the word ambassador. Most dictionaries don’t recognize this word. Therefore, you should not use it in any context. For this reason, we will not discuss any tips for using this term in a sentence.
Ambassador Vs Embassador: More On Differences And Similarities
The core similarity between these words is that they refer to the same thing. On the other hand, their core difference is their spelling. However, you can also differentiate these words by their popularity. Naturally, the word ambassador is more popular because it is the correct and accepted spelling.
Another common variation between these terms is their history. The word ambassador comes from the Old French word “embassator,” which explains its archaic spelling “embassador.” This word also has roots in the Old Spanish or Latin word “ambactus,” meaning “servant, vassal, messenger, or servant.” The spelling “embassador” was popular in the early 14th century.” On the other hand, the first known use of the currently accepted spelling “ambassador” was in the late 14th century.
List Of Examples Of Ambassador And Embassador Use In Sentences
Ambassador is one of the few English words that is not complicated. While this word has several meanings, they are all related and easy to master. For this reason, using this word in sentences is also easy. Here are some examples of sentences featuring the words ambassador and embassador:
Example sentences of ambassador
- The American Ambassador to Britain left the country in early November, and no one has seen him since.
- The government announced the newly appointed ambassadors on Monday morning.
- The Yeezy brand cut ties with its global ambassadors after the anti-semitic remarks on social media.
- Jane received an award as an environment ambassador from the United Nations.
- The BLM organization appointed Jana Jade as its ambassador after years of working with her as a contributor.
Example sentences of embassador
- The embassador’s motorcade got into an accident last night. (Incorrect)
- Jane is the newest Adidas embassador, according to an announcement posted on TMZ. (Incorrect)
- The embassador will not return to the country after committing heinous crimes against his nation. (Incorrect)
- The embassador attended the youth meeting in New York last year. (Incorrect)
- I was honored to attend a meeting with the new embassador last week. (Incorrect)
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Conclusion
So, which word should you use in writing? The straightforward answer is ambassador. The key difference between the words’ “ambassador” and “embassador” is their spelling. In fact, these words have the same concept. Another difference is that ambassador is the formal and most popular spelling worldwide, while embassador is an archaic spelling that is no longer acceptable.
We hope this article successfully clarifies the difference between these very close words. Make sure you practice writing the word for it to stick to your mind for longer.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.