persona non grata

American  

[per-soh-nah nohn grah-tah, per-soh-nuh non grah-tuh, gray-, 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.

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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

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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.”

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• personae non gratae
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of persona non grata

First recorded in 1885–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

persona non grata

The citizen-led effort calls for him to be declared persona non grata and removed from Canada.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 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

Iran’s ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, is refusing to leave Beirut despite Lebanon’s foreign ministry declaring him persona non grata.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026

However, her direct and outspoken approach has also led to controversy, with enraged officials in Honduras once wanting to declare her persona non grata.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026

“I am become persona non grata in that quarter. I am no wise welcome in the stateroom imperial.”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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