What does legation mean?
Legation is a formal term for a diplomatic mission or for the group of representatives sent by one government to another. It may refer to the mission itself, as in “a diplomatic legation,” or to the envoys who compose it. The word often carries historical or institutional overtones, including missions sent by rulers, popes, or governments. In contemporary usage, embassy is more common for a permanent mission, so legation is especially associated with temporary missions and older diplomatic terminology. It is related etymologically to words such as legacy and delegate, reflecting the Latin idea of sending or assigning someone on behalf of another authority. The term is useful when a text calls for a formal or historically precise description of a government’s diplomatic representation.
nounA diplomatic mission or the representative sent by a government to another state. The word can also refer collectively to the members of such a mission.
- A diplomatic mission or the representative sent by one government to another.
- A body of diplomatic envoys sent by a ruler or government, especially in historical contexts.
"The minister received the members of the diplomatic legation at the embassy."
"The ambassador was accompanied by a small legation of advisers."
"The court received a papal legation with gifts and diplomatic correspondence."
Used for multiple diplomatic missions or bodies of envoys.
"The two legations met to discuss regional security."
A legation is a government’s official diplomatic team on foreign assignment—its own embassy-style mission, especially in historical contexts.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does legation come from?
The word comes from Latin legatio, meaning “a sending” or “an embassy,” derived from legare, “to send” or “to commission.” It entered English in the late medieval period through diplomatic and ecclesiastical usage. Cognates include legate, an envoy, and legacy, something transmitted or assigned to another; delegate also comes from the same root through medieval Latin delegare.
Related word forms
How legation is actually used
Relatively formal and somewhat historical. In modern diplomacy, “embassy” is more usual for a permanent diplomatic mission, while “legation” can suggest a special mission or a traditionally styled representation.
Easily confused with legation
A legation is a diplomatic mission or its envoys, whereas a legislature is a law-making body.
A delegation is a group sent to represent others, while a legation specifically represents a government in a diplomatic capacity.