attaché

[a-ta-shey, at-uh- or, esp. British, uh-tash-ey] /æ tæˈʃeɪ, ˌæt ə- or, esp. British, əˈtæʃ eɪ/
noun
1.
a diplomatic official attached to an embassy or legation, especially in a technical capacity:
a commercial attaché; a cultural attaché.
2.
a military officer who is assigned to a diplomatic post in a foreign country in order to gather military information:
an air attaché; an army attaché; a naval attaché.
3.
Also, attache. attaché case.
Origin
1825-35; < French: literally, attached, past participle of attacher to attach
Can be confused
attach, attaché.
Examples from the web for attaché
  • His military attache is eager to trade arms for drug money.
British Dictionary definitions for attaché

attaché

/əˈtæʃeɪ; French ataʃe/
noun
1.
a specialist attached to a diplomatic mission: military attaché
2.
(Brit) a junior member of the staff of an embassy or legation
Word Origin
C19: from French: someone attached (to a mission), from attacher to attach
Word Origin and History for attaché

attache

n.

1835, from French attaché "junior officer attached to the staff of an ambassador, etc.," literally "attached," past participle of attacher "to attach" (see attach). Attache case "small leather case for carrying papers" first recorded 1900.

attaché in Culture
attaché [(a-ta-shay, at-uh-shay)]

A diplomatic officer attached to an embassy or consulate. Most attachés have specialties, such as military attachés, cultural attachés, economic attachés, and so forth.

Note: Some nations disguise spies as attachés.