What does legate mean?
A legate is an official representative sent by a ruler, government, or the pope to communicate, negotiate, or exercise authority on behalf of the sender. The word has a formal and historical tone and is less common in everyday speech than envoy or ambassador, although it can convey a more specific sense of appointment and delegated authority. In modern usage, “papal legate” is especially common for a high-ranking papal representative. Historically, a legate was a Roman governor appointed to oversee a province, which explains the term’s broader association with authority and representation. The word is useful when emphasizing that a person is acting officially for another rather than as an independent participant. Its meaning can therefore include both diplomatic representation and delegated political power, depending on context.
nounAn official representative or envoy sent by a ruler or government, especially one sent on a diplomatic mission. In historical usage, the term also referred to a Roman governor of a province.
- An official representative or envoy sent by a ruler or government, especially on a diplomatic mission.
- Historically, a Roman official appointed to govern a province.
"The pope sent a legate to negotiate with the government."
"The queen appointed a legate to deliver her reply to the foreign court."
"The Roman legate governed the province with the authority of the emperor."
The plural is used for multiple official representatives or envoys.
"The two legates exchanged messages before the ceremony."
From the same Latin root as legal delegation, a legate was originally someone sent to act on another person's authority.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does legate come from?
The English word comes from Latin legatus, a noun meaning “envoy” or “deputy” and a past participle meaning “appointed or delegated.” It is related to Latin legare, “to send or commission,” and therefore also underlies the English word delegate. Latin also used legatus for a provincial governor because such an official acted with delegated imperial authority. The English form entered use during the Renaissance with the meaning of a papal or diplomatic envoy.
Related word forms
How legate is actually used
Today, the word is relatively formal and literary, and it is especially associated with a representative of the pope. The historical sense concerning a Roman provincial governor is mainly found in historical and academic writing.
Easily confused with legate
A delegate represents a group or organization, while a legate is an official envoy, especially one sent by a ruler or government.