From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdignitarydig‧ni‧ta‧ry /ˈdɪɡnətəri $ -teri/ noun (plural dignitaries) [countable] PGOIMPORTANTsomeone who has an important official position SYN VIP Flowers were presented to visiting dignitaries.
Examples from the Corpus
dignitary• They paused a while to let a fleet of barges, packed with city dignitaries, sweep by as stately as swans.• Some Honor Guard members will escort dignitaries at the inauguration and the White House reviewing stand.• CI5 took the responsibility for ensuring that no harm came to, or from, those ill-favoured dignitaries.• Italy's president will be there, with foreign dignitaries including the Prince of Wales.• Foreign dignitaries from 20 countries were invited to attend.• Most of the local dignitaries attended the event.• Earl Robert kept the two monastic dignitaries one on either side of him, with Hugh at Herluin's other side.• Kathy was there, and Tony Carbo, and a happy-looking assembly of dignitaries in pin-stripes and starched blue shirts.• The dignitaries who ride them are scarcely less gorgeously attired.• In the water, Navy SEALs conducted mock attacks near Broadway Pier, where dignitaries watched the ships steam past. 