charge d’affaires

noun, plural char·gés d’af·faires [shahr-zheyz duh-fair, shahr-zheyz; French shar-zhey da-fer] /ʃɑrˈʒeɪz dəˈfɛər, ˈʃɑr ʒeɪz; French ʃar ʒeɪ daˈfɛr/. Government.

1. Also called chargé d’affaires ad interim. an official placed in charge of diplomatic business during the temporary absence of the ambassador or minister.
2. an envoy to a state to which a diplomat of higher grade is not sent.

noun plural chargés d’affaires (ˈʃɑːʒeɪ, -ʒeɪz, French ʃarʒe)

1. the temporary head of a diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador or minister
2. the head of a diplomatic mission of the lowest level