consular
KON-suh-ler
/ˈkɒnsjʊlər/
Relating to the consul or the official duties and offices of a consul representing a government abroad.
Specifically associated with administrative services for citizens abroad (like passports and visas), as opposed to 'diplomatic' which deals with high-level political relations.
The story behind the word. Consular derives from the Latin consul, which referred to the highest elected political office in the Roman Republic. The word comes from consulere, meaning 'to deliberate' or 'to take counsel.'
Word relationships
- diplomatic: Diplomatic relates to broad political relations between nations, while consular specifically relates to administrative services for individuals.
Commonly confused with
- embassy: An embassy is the primary diplomatic mission in a capital city, while a consulate handles local administrative and consular services in various cities.
Word family
- consul (noun): An official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect its citizens.
- consulate (noun): The place where a consul's duties are carried out.
Collocations
- consular services
- consular officer
- consular relations
- consular assistance
Example sentences
- "If you lose your passport while traveling, you should contact the nearest consular office." Travel emergency
- "The treaty expanded consular relations and simplified the visa application process." International relations
Memory hook
Consular officers counsel citizens who are far from home. Consular = counsel for travelers.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to political negotiations between ambassadors; use diplomatic instead.
Fun facts
- Consular officers have the authority to perform marriages, register births of citizens born abroad, and even arrange for the return of deceased citizens to their home countries.
Related words
Explore more words
diplomatic, diplomat, administrative, municipal, clerical, conjugal
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