foreign office: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Official, Political
Quick answer
What does “foreign office” mean?
The government department of a country, particularly the UK, responsible for managing its foreign relations and diplomatic affairs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The government department of a country, particularly the UK, responsible for managing its foreign relations and diplomatic affairs.
Can refer specifically to the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), or more generally to the equivalent government department in any nation, though capitalised 'Foreign Office' typically refers to the UK institution.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Foreign Office' is a specific, historical institution (now the FCDO). In US English, the equivalent is the 'State Department' or 'Department of State'. The generic term 'foreign office' is understood but rarely used in US contexts.
Connotations
In UK: Institutional, historical, traditional authority. In US: Sounds distinctly British; using it for the US government would be incorrect.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK political/news discourse. Low frequency in US English, except when discussing UK politics.
Grammar
How to Use “foreign office” in a Sentence
The [Country's] foreign office issued a statement.She works for the Foreign Office.The matter was referred to the foreign office.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foreign office” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Foreign Office guidance is essential.
- It was a classic Foreign Office response.
American English
- State Department guidance is essential. (Note: 'Foreign Office' not used adjectivally in US)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when discussing international trade regulations or diplomatic clearances, e.g., 'The business delegation was facilitated by the Foreign Office.'
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, and history papers discussing diplomatic apparatus.
Everyday
Used in news consumption and travel contexts, e.g., 'Check the Foreign Office travel advice before booking.'
Technical
Specific reference in law (diplomatic immunity, treaty ratification) and governmental procedures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foreign office”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foreign office”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foreign office”
- Using lowercase for the specific UK institution ('he works for the foreign office').
- Using 'Foreign Office' to refer to the US State Department.
- Misspelling as 'foriegn office'.
- Using as a verb ('They foreign officed the treaty').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, since 2020 it has been merged into the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). However, 'Foreign Office' remains in common and historical usage.
You can use the generic term 'foreign office' (lowercase), but it's more common to use the country-specific name like 'Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (France) or 'Auswärtiges Amt' (Germany). Capitalised 'Foreign Office' specifically denotes the UK institution.
The Foreign Office (FCDO) deals with international relations. The Home Office deals with domestic affairs like immigration, policing, and security within the UK.
No. Despite starting with 'f', the word 'foreign' is pronounced with a consonant sound /f/, so the correct article is 'a foreign office'.
The government department of a country, particularly the UK, responsible for managing its foreign relations and diplomatic affairs.
Foreign office is usually formal, official, political in register.
Foreign office: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɒr.ən ˈɒf.ɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːr.ən ˈɑː.fɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A career in the Foreign Office”
- “The corridors of the Foreign Office”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'OFFICE for dealing with what's FOREIGN.' It's the official building (office) for matters outside the country (foreign).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE IS A BODY: The Foreign Office is the 'face' or 'voice' of the nation to the outside world.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the US equivalent of the UK's Foreign Office?