persona non grata
3 synonyms and 2 antonyms for persona non grata, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person who is no longer welcome somewhere, especially a foreign diplomat formally declared unacceptable by a host government and required to leave.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
persona grata
welcome guest
How to use persona non grata
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
declared persona non grata
expel as persona non grata
persona non grata in
Formal and diplomatic in its strict sense; used jokingly in social contexts. Plural is personae non gratae.
Etymology
Latin, literally 'person not pleasing', from persona 'person', non 'not' and grata, feminine of gratus 'pleasing, welcome'.
Full origin of persona non grata →Frequently asked questions
What happens when a diplomat is declared persona non grata?
Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations a host state can declare any diplomat unacceptable at any time and without giving reasons. The sending state must recall them or end their functions, usually within a short deadline, or they lose diplomatic status.
What is the difference between persona non grata and a pariah?
Persona non grata is a formal declaration that someone is unwelcome in a particular place, and in diplomacy it has legal force. A pariah is a person or state shunned generally by everyone, with no formal mechanism behind it.
What is the plural of persona non grata?
Personae non gratae, following Latin agreement. In English writing personas non grata also appears but is less accepted in formal contexts.
