military attache: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Diplomatic, Military
Quick answer
What does “military attache” mean?
A commissioned officer who is part of a diplomatic mission and serves as a specialist in military affairs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A commissioned officer who is part of a diplomatic mission and serves as a specialist in military affairs.
A military officer accredited to a foreign government or international organization, serving as an advisor to their own embassy on military matters and facilitating defence cooperation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation of 'attaché' is identical. The role and function are the same. Minor differences may exist in subordinate titles (e.g., 'Assistant Naval Attaché' vs. 'Deputy Naval Attaché').
Connotations
Neutral professional term in both. May carry connotations of intelligence gathering in popular culture, though officially it's a diplomatic liaison role.
Frequency
Equally standard and frequent in formal diplomatic and military contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “military attache” in a Sentence
[military attaché] + [of/from + COUNTRY][military attaché] + [to + COUNTRY/ORGANIZATION][the] + [military attaché] + [verb: met/briefed/reported]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “military attache” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No verb form)
American English
- (No verb form)
adverb
British English
- (No adverb form)
American English
- (No adverb form)
adjective
British English
- The military-attaché post became vacant.
- They discussed military-attaché protocols.
American English
- The military attaché role is highly specialized.
- It was a military-attaché briefing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Only relevant in defence industry or government contracting discussions.
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, and military history texts.
Everyday
Very rare. Mostly encountered in news reports about diplomacy or espionage.
Technical
Standard term in diplomatic protocol, military manuals, and foreign policy documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “military attache”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “military attache”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “military attache”
- Spelling: 'military attache' (missing accent), 'military attashay'. Plural: 'military attachés' (preferred) or 'military attaches'. Incorrect preposition: 'military attaché in France' (use 'to' for accreditation, 'in' for location).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Officially, no. They are accredited diplomats with a military expertise remit. However, the role has historically involved intelligence gathering, leading to the common association in fiction and popular culture.
'Defence attaché' is often a broader, more modern term that can encompass all service branches (army, navy, air force) in one role. 'Military attaché' can be synonymous or refer specifically to an army attaché, with separate 'naval' and 'air attachés'.
In British English: /əˈtæʃ.eɪ/ (uh-TASH-ay). In American English: /ˌæ.təˈʃeɪ/ (at-uh-SHAY). The stress pattern differs.
In formal and diplomatic writing, yes, the acute accent (é) is standard. In fast news copy or informal contexts, it is sometimes omitted ('attache').
A commissioned officer who is part of a diplomatic mission and serves as a specialist in military affairs.
Military attache is usually formal, diplomatic, military in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(None specific to this term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an army officer ATTACHED to an Embassy (attaché).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MILITARY AS AN EXTENSION OF DIPLOMACY; THE OFFICER AS A BRIDGE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the term 'military attaché'?