Noun: dignitary 'dig-nu,te-ree [N. Amer], dig-nu-t(u-)ree [Brit]
- An important or influential person; someone of high rank or holder of an important office
"The dignitary was protected by security";
- very important person, VIP, high-up, panjandrum, high muckamuck [N. Amer, informal], mucky-muck [N. Amer, informal], muckamuck [N. Amer, informal]
Derived forms: dignitaries
Type of: important person, influential person, personage
Encyclopedia: Dignitary, Ecclesiastical