non grata
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of non grata
First recorded in 1925–30; abstracted from persona non grata
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.
Choi becoming persona non grata for pot hardly seemed fair in light of that horrifying revelation.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026
She said her husband has become persona non grata — “canceled,” in her words — and that the allegations will continue to cast a shade over his career “even if he’s exonerated.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026
Beirut declared Mohammad Reza Shibani persona non grata, but he’s still there, at his embassy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
"He has no power. He is persona non grata, and that's not because he did anything wrong ... that's because of the world we live in," she said.
From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026
The other members of the group became persona non grata one by one.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
