diplomat
Americannoun
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a person appointed by a national government to conduct official negotiations and maintain political, economic, and social relations with another country or countries.
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a person who is tactful and skillful in managing delicate situations, handling people, etc.
noun
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an official, such as an ambassador or first secretary, engaged in diplomacy
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a person who deals with people tactfully or skilfully
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.
Vocabulary lists containing diplomat
English Words Derived from French, List 1
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Government
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"Why Exploring the Ocean Is Mankind's Next Giant Leap," Vocabulary from the commentary
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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.
These days, it’s an essential specialty for a Mexican diplomat.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
Velasco, who is 38 but looks even younger, replaced Juan Ramón de la Fuente, 74, a veteran diplomat and academic who stepped down, he said, for health reasons.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
A Western diplomat told me the recovery was led by officials from Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who were sent to Lebanon following the 2024 war.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
The bases were built without Copenhagen’s official consent but with the help of a rogue Danish diplomat.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
Some Argie diplomat in New York, still harping on about the Belgrano being outside the zone, said Britain no longer rules the waves, it just waives the rules.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
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.
