embassy

/ˈɛmbəsi/

//ˈɛmbəsi// noun

"embassy" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“embassy” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,787 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,787
frequency rank, English
7
letters
9
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The function or duty of an ambassador.

Key facts for embassy
PropertyValue
Headwordembassy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛmbəsi/
Letters7
Frequency rank#5,787
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “embassy” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). embassy lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for embassy is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɛmbəsi/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,787 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for embassy, with forms such as "ebmassy", "emabssy", and "embassyy". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Modern variant of obsolete ambassy, from Middle French ambassee (“mission, embassy”), from Old French ambascee (also enbassee (“message for a high official, official mission”)) from Old Italian ambasciata, from Old Occitan ambaissada (“embassy”), derived fr… The correct English form is embassy, spelled E-M-B-A-S-S-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    The function or duty of an ambassador.
  2. 2
    An organization or group of officials who permanently represent a sovereign state in a second sovereign state or with respect to an international organization such as the United Nations.
  3. 3
    A temporary mission representing a sovereign state.
  4. 4
    The official residence of such a group, or of an ambassador.
  5. 5
    A written account as to an embassy.

Etymology

Modern variant of obsolete ambassy, from Middle French ambassee (“mission, embassy”), from Old French ambascee (also enbassee (“message for a high official, official mission”)) from Old Italian ambasciata, from Old Occitan ambaissada (“embassy”), derived from ambaissa (“message”), from Late Latin ambactia (“service rendered”) (attested also as ambascia, from Proto-Germanic *ambahtiją (“service”), *ambahtaz (“follower, servant”), from Gaulish ambaxtos (“dependant, vassal”, literally “one who is sent around”), from Proto-Celtic *ambaxtos (“servant”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰi-h₂eǵ- (“drive around”); compare Latin ambactus, Old Irish amus, amsach (“mercenary, servant”), Welsh amaeth (“tenant farm”)). Doublet of ambassade.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ebmassy,emabssy,embassyy,embasy,embasys,embbassy,embsasy,emmbassy,mebassy

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of embassy - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ebmassy2emabssy2embassyy1embasy1embasys2embbassy1embsasy2emmbassy1
Edit distance from "embassy"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "embassy"?
"embassy" is spelled E-M-B-A-S-S-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛmbəsi/.
What does "embassy" mean?
As a noun, "embassy" means: The function or duty of an ambassador.
What are common misspellings of "embassy"?
Common misspellings include "ebmassy", "emabssy", "embassyy", "embasy", "embasys". The correct spelling is "embassy".
How do you pronounce "embassy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "embassy" is /ˈɛmbəsi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "embassy"?
Modern variant of obsolete ambassy, from Middle French ambassee (“mission, embassy”), from Old French ambascee (also enbassee (“message for a high official, official mission”)) from Old Italian ambasciata, from Old Occitan ambaissada (“embassy”), ... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “embassy”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-M-B-A-S-S-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɛmbəsi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list