Definition

1. Noun:
   • The body of diplomatic personnel: The diplomatic service refers to the collective group of professional diplomats and officials who represent their country's government abroad. These individuals work in embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions to manage international relations, protect their nation's interests, and facilitate communication between governments.

Usage

• Noun:
  • She joined the diplomatic service after graduating from university.
  • The ambassador has had a long and distinguished career in the diplomatic service.
  • Training for the diplomatic service is highly competitive and rigorous.

Advanced Usage

• "to enter the diplomatic service": to begin a career as a professional diplomat.
  • He passed the difficult exams to enter the diplomatic service.
• "a member of the diplomatic service": a person who works as a diplomat.
  • As a member of the diplomatic service, she was posted to three different countries in five years.

Variants and Related Words

• Diplomatic corps (n): The collective body of all foreign diplomats accredited to a particular country. (Note: This is a related but distinct term referring to diplomats a host country, not the service a sending country.)
• Foreign Service (n): A term often used synonymously with "diplomatic service," particularly in countries like the United States (U.S. Foreign Service).
  • He works for the U.S. Foreign Service.

Synonyms

• Foreign service: The branch of a government that manages foreign relations.
• Diplomatic corps: (See note in Variants section).
• Embassy staff: The personnel working at an embassy (a more specific, location-based term).

Related Phrases

• Diplomatic immunity: A legal privilege that protects diplomats from prosecution under the host country's laws, a principle relevant to the work of the diplomatic service.
• Diplomatic mission: An official representation of a country's government in another country, such as an embassy or consulate, which is staffed by the diplomatic service.

Noun

1. the body of diplomatic personnel