diplomatic
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or engaged in diplomacy.
diplomatic officials.
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skilled in dealing with sensitive matters or people; tactful.
a counselor who is at all times diplomatic with at-risk students and their parents.
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of or relating to diplomatics.
Much of her diplomatic research involves the private correspondence of President Van Buren.
adjective
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of or relating to diplomacy or diplomats
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skilled in negotiating, esp between states or people
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tactful in dealing with people
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of or relating to diplomatics
Synonym Usage
Diplomatic, politic, tactful imply ability to avoid offending others or hurting their feelings, especially in situations where this ability is important. Diplomatic suggests a smoothness and skill in handling others, usually in such a way as to attain one's own ends and yet avoid any unpleasantness or opposition: By diplomatic conduct he avoided antagonizing anyone. Politic emphasizes expediency or prudence in looking out for one's own interests, thus knowing how to treat people of different types and on different occasions: a truth which it is not politic to insist on. Tactful suggests a nice touch in the handling of delicate matters or situations, and, unlike the other two, often suggests a sincere desire not to hurt the feelings of others: a tactful way of correcting someone.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of diplomatic
First recorded in 1705–15; from French diplomatique, from New Latin diplōmaticus, equivalent to Latin diplōmat- (stem of diplōma ) diploma + -icus -ic
Explanation
If you have the ability to say the right thing when two friends are fighting, making both sides happy, you are diplomatic. You have tact. You are a peacemaker. You can be diplomatic in your personal life if you’re polite, easy to get along with, and able to deliver bad news in a kind way. You can also be professionally diplomatic — diplomats are important members of the U.S. State Department. Diplomats keep the peace and maintain good relationships with other countries, even as they try to get other countries to see and do things our way. That's why keeping the peace in smaller ways is also called diplomatic.
Vocabulary lists containing diplomatic
Grade 9, List 2
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
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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.
Oil prices rose Tuesday as continued risks to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz kept Middle East supply concerns in focus, while investors awaited signs of diplomatic progress over the Iran conflict.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
A global rally in artificial intelligence-linked stocks stalled in early European trade, while oil prices reversed course to fall on rising hopes for a diplomatic settlement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Hope is rising for diplomatic progress on the Middle East as world leaders convene for the U.N.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
"Sanctions must be strong so that all efforts for peace -- including our joint diplomatic efforts with the United States, Europe, and our other friends -- can succeed," he added.
From Barron's
There was a tremendous advantage in Zeni’s becoming a member of the Swazi royal family: she was immediately granted diplomatic privileges and could visit me virtually at will.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
