persona grata

American  

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

noun

Latin.

personae gratae plural

1. an acceptable person, especially a diplomatic representative acceptable to the government to which they are accredited.

---

persona grata British  

/ pɜːˈsəʊnə ˈɡrɑːtə /

noun

1. an acceptable person, esp a diplomat acceptable to the government of the country to which he or she is sent

---

Etymology

Origin of persona grata

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Cavett: I was actually persona grata at the White House for a brief time.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2016

Nor is Colonel John Patrick Sullivan, another big old-line Democrat, persona grata beyond his urban district, because of his horse track, gambling and brewing connections.

From Time Magazine Archive

Though he took candle in hand and marched devoutly in one of the many well-attended Corpus Christi parades last month, Vice Chancellor von Papen seemed no longer persona grata to the Church.

From Time Magazine Archive

On my return to Malta Pope Benedict even intimated that I would be persona, grata as Minister to the Holy See.

From Time Magazine Archive

Me—Well, of course, all of this makes you unquestionably persona grata to us, and I think it should make you a novel and interesting feature of diplomatic life along Piccadilly.

From Half-Hours with the Idiot by Bangs, John Kendrick