diplomacy
Americannoun
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the conduct by government officials of negotiations and other relations between nations.
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the art or science of conducting such negotiations.
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skill in managing negotiations, handling people, etc., so that there is little or no ill will; tact.
Seating one's dinner guests often calls for considerable diplomacy.
noun
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the conduct of the relations of one state with another by peaceful means
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skill in the management of international relations
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tact, skill, or cunning in dealing with people
Other Word Forms
- nondiplomacy noun
- prediplomacy noun
- superdiplomacy noun
Etymology
Origin of diplomacy
First recorded in 1790–1800; from French diplomatie, from diplomat(e) diplomat + -ie -y 3
Explanation
Diplomacy is the art of helping groups to get along and even work together. If you have a gift for diplomacy, you can get bickering siblings to cooperate. The word diplomacy comes from the French word diplomatie, which means “diplomat.” A diplomat lives in a foreign country, fluent in its language — and culture. The job of a diplomat is to practice diplomacy among nations, understanding the concerns and needs of all and, if possible, guiding them toward decisions that are mutually agreeable.
Vocabulary lists containing diplomacy
Night
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Power Suffix: -acy
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Government
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
President Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his desire to use transactional diplomacy to pressure both allies and adversaries.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
Late last week, however, he gave a lengthy interview to state TV where he defended pursuing diplomacy in what may have been a response to hardline criticism.
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
Tuesday began as a frantic day of diplomacy in Washington, with Air Force Two ready to fly Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad for another round of peace talks between the US and Iran.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
But such disagreements tended to be handled with the decorous language of diplomacy.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
He distanced himself from the women and any publicity, believing that diplomacy was the best tactic.
From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
