The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word CONSULATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
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More clues leading to the result CONSULATE
- Firm turning off current to make wiring safe for government office
- Cleans out revolting government office
- Firm, not the first to cut off diplomatic residence
- Get opinion of European about a foreign embassy
- A cult one’s contrived in diplomatic office
- After work, cleans out government office
- Study list of candidates around upper-class diplomatic residence
- Commission of clues, not a difficulty
- Bone turning up inside an ice-cream holder in a foreign office
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The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CONSULATE mean?
CONSULATE noun- Rule by consuls, as during most periods of the Roman Republic or in France between 1799 and 1804.
- The office of a consul, in its various senses.
- The term of office of a consul.
- The business office of a consul; a minor embassy.
- Any town or city council.