- a messenger, envoy, or delegate
- an emissary to a foreign state representing the Pope
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
leg•ate /ˈlɛgɪt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Religiona member of the clergy sent or appointed by the pope as his representative.
- a usually official representative or envoy.
leg•ate
(leg′it),USA pronunciation n.
leg′ate•ship′, n.
- Religionan ecclesiastic delegated by the pope as his representative.
- Ancient History[Rom. Hist.]
- an assistant to a general or to a consul or magistrate, in the government of any army or a province;
a commander of a legion. - a provincial governor of senatorial rank appointed by the emperor.
- an assistant to a general or to a consul or magistrate, in the government of any army or a province;
- an envoy or emissary.
- Latin lēgātus deputy (noun, nominal use of masculine past participle of lēgāre to depute), equivalent. to lēgā(re) + -tus past participle suffix
- Middle English legat 1125–75
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
legate /ˈlɛɡɪt/ n
'legate' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):