persona non grata

[ per-soh-nah nohn grah-tah; English per-soh-nuhnon grah-tuh, grey-, grat-uh ]

/ pɛrˈsoʊ nɑ noʊn ˈgrɑ tɑ; English pərˈsoʊ nə nɒn ˈgrɑ tə, ˈgreɪ-, ˈgræt ə /

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noun, plural per·so·nae non gra·tae

[per-soh-nahy nohn grah-tahy; English per-soh-nee non grah-tee, grey-, grat-ee]. /pɛrˈsoʊ naɪ noʊn ˈgrɑ taɪ; English pərˈsoʊ ni nɒn ˈgrɑ ti, ˈgreɪ-, ˈgræt i/. Latin.

a person who is not welcome: He has become persona non grata in our club since his angry outburst.

a diplomatic representative unacceptable to an accrediting government.

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Compare persona grata.

Origin of persona non grata

First recorded in 1885–90

Words nearby persona non grata

personal stereo, personal stylist, personal trainer, personalty, personal watercraft, persona non grata, personate, person-day, personhood, personification, personified

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use persona non grata in a sentence

Egypt expelled the Turkish ambassador last year, prompting Ankara to declare the Egyptian envoy in Turkey persona non grata.
Turkey Takes in ‘Terrorists’ from the Muslim Brotherhood|Thomas Seibert|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Two of the biggest of those, Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, are currently persona non grata in much of the Western world.
Benedict Cumberbatch on 'The Imitation Game,' Homophobia, and How to Combat ISIS|Marlow Stern|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet they are, as Garcia says, “persona non grata on our own tribal land.”
A Shooting on a Tribal Land Uncovers Feds Running Wild|Caitlin Dickson|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a result of the FBI designation, ICP was persona non grata in numerous places, including many potential Gathering sites.
A Report From the Misunderstood Gathering of the Juggalos|Steve Miller|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The only thing an Israeli prime minister may not be—at least, not for long—is persona non-grata in the White House.
Obama's Two Elections|Bernard Avishai|October 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
To make my position more intolerable, I am persona non grata with both sides.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Burleigh was evidently persona non grata in the eyes of both.
Warrior Gap|Charles King
I may have been persona non grata, but, if so, she did not express her feeling.
Birds of the Rockies|Leander Sylvester Keyser
Seeing that I would henceforth be persona non grata at the palace, I sought obscurity in the writing and publication of books.
The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce|Ambrose Bierce
The grocer, who in being taxed aids in paying the officer's salary, is persona non grata.
As A Chinaman Saw Us|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for persona non grata

persona non grata

/ Latin (pɜːˈsəʊnə nɒn ˈɡrɑːtə) /

noun plural personae non gratae (pɜːˈsəʊniː nɒn ˈɡrɑːtiː)

an unacceptable or unwelcome person

a diplomatic or consular officer who is not acceptable to the government or sovereign to whom he or she is accredited

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for persona non grata

persona non grata

[ (puhr-soh-nuh non grah-tuh, grat-tuh) ]

A person who is no longer favored or welcome: “After my angry words with the manager, I am persona non grata at the video store.” From Latin, meaning “an unacceptable person.”

persona non grata

Origin of persona non grata

Words nearby persona non grata

Words related to persona non grata

How to use persona non grata in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for persona non grata

Cultural definitions for persona non grata