diplomat

American  

[dip-luh-mat] / ˈdɪp ləˌmæt /

noun

diplomats plural

1. a person appointed by a national government to conduct official negotiations and maintain political, economic, and social relations with another country or countries.

2. a person who is tactful and skillful in managing delicate situations, handling people, etc.

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diplomat British  

/ ˈdɪpləˌmæt /

noun

1. an official, such as an ambassador or first secretary, engaged in diplomacy

2. a person who deals with people tactfully or skilfully

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• diplomats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of diplomat

First recorded in 1805–15; from French diplomate, back formation from diplomatique diplomatic

Explanation

A diplomat is a person who helps people who have differing points of view find common ground. In government, a diplomat is an official who represents his or her country in other nations. The noun diplomat is related to the word diploma, from the Greek diploun, meaning “to fold double.” A diploma is an official paper — something diplomats carry on behalf of their governments. They know about all sides of an issue, which is helpful in times of conflict. You are a diplomat, if caught between Yankees and Red Sox fans, you get them to talk about hockey instead.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

diplomat diplomats

But as one career diplomat told me, Delhi wasn't particularly "familiar" with the revolving cast of prime ministers over the past decade either.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

A real diplomat, that Brooklyn-born, Britain-raised American by birthright.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

"Rutte is very much cut out for the job and we're very lucky to have him," one European diplomat told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026

"All these things got high visibility and created public dissatisfaction in Bangladesh which in a way reflected on Dhaka's thinking process," says Humayun Kabir, a former Bangladeshi diplomat.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

His father was Constantijn Huygens, a master diplomat of the age, a litterateur, poet, composer, musician, close friend and translator of the English poet John Donne, and the head of an archetypical great family.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

A retired Air Force Reserve colonel and longtime foreign policy hawk, he spent decades cultivating relationships not only across Capitol Hill but with world leaders, diplomats and advocacy organizations.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

European diplomats view Trump’s decision to attend as a positive sign of his continued commitment to the alliance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

Negotiations have often gone late into the night, producing miniscule advances and leaving diplomats drained -- especially those from small countries with only a handful of staff in Geneva covering every branch of the UN.

From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026

In 2024, the country expelled three French diplomats, accusing them of "subersive activities".

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

The news spread first along the mission grapevine and through government employees and among the diplomats at cocktail parties, and finally the rumors began to reach Europe.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Related Words

• agent
• envoy
• expert
• mediator
• minister
• negotiator
• representative