persona non grata

American  

[per-soh-nah nohn grah-tah, per-soh-nuh non grah-tuh, grey-, grat-uh] / pɛrˈsoʊ nɑ noʊn ˈgrɑ tɑ, pərˈsoʊ nə nɒn ˈgrɑ tə, ˈgreɪ-, ˈgræt ə /

noun

Latin.

• personae non gratae
  plural

1. a person who is not welcome.

   He has become persona non grata in our club since his angry outburst.

2. a diplomatic representative unacceptable to an accrediting government.

---

persona non grata British  

/ pɜːˈsəʊnə nɒn ˈɡrɑːtə /

noun

1. an unacceptable or unwelcome person

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

---

persona non grata Cultural  

1. 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.”

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• personae non gratae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of persona non grata

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

persona non grata

As the mood of the nation sours on Silicon Valley’s vision for the future, Flock cameras and data centers have become persona non grata in several communities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

The move prompted a furious reaction from the Peruvian government and triggered a diplomatic tit-for-tat, which included Peru's Congress voting to declare Sheinbaum persona non grata.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

He may not quite be persona non grata there these days - he gave a speech at the Uefa Congress in February - but there is clear friction.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

Choi becoming persona non grata for pot hardly seemed fair in light of that horrifying revelation.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

For almost six years he had been persona non grata.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane