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diplomat Definition

dip·lo·mat (diplə mat′)

noun

  1. a representative of a government who conducts relations with the governments of other nations; person whose career or profession is diplomacy
  2. a person skilled in dealing with other people; tactful person

Etymology: Fr diplomate, back-form. < diplomatique (after nouns ending in -ate, as aristocrate), diplomatic

diplomat Synonyms

diplomat

n.

  1. An accredited representative abroad

    ambassador, consul, minister, statesman, diplomatist, plenipotentiary, ambassadorial representative, consular representative, member of the diplomatic corps, legate, nuncio, emissary, envoy, attaché, agent, expert on international affairs, shuttle diplomat, cabinet member, chargé d'affaires, chargé; see also representative 1, statesman.

  2. A suave or tactful person

    politician, strategist, tactician, statesman, negotiator, intermediary, mediator, peacemaker, conciliator, Machiavelli, Machiavellian, propagandist, bargainer, cosmopolitan, manipulator, artful dodger, apple polisher*, smoothie*; see also judge 2.

    Antonyms bungler*, fumbler, clod.

diplomat Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • expel: We have been urging other countries to expel Iraqi diplomats in order to minimize this threat.
  • marry: In 1979 he married a German diplomat, Dr. Elke Schmitz.
  • say: They're sitting ducks up there, " said a Western diplomat.
  • kill: Apparently a terrorist had driven his bomb laden car into that of an American diplomat killing the diplomat and his driver.
  • quote: Reuters news agency quotes diplomats in Ivory Coast as saying that they have heard of the hiring of 300 fresh mercenaries.
  • send: In 1992, the UK sent senior diplomat Mr. Philip Morrice to become the first official representative in Taiwan.

Preposition: at

  • un: Multilateral negotiation is hard and often unrewarding work and I have felt the diplomats at the UN more than earn their keep.
  • embassy: Your aim is to uncover the murderer of a high ranking diplomat at the embassy of an unpronounceable Central European country.

Converse of subject

  • occupy: Class V Diplomat A dwelling which is occupied by a diplomat or a member of an international organization headquartered in the UK.

Adjective modifier

  • Western: They're sitting ducks up there, " said a Western diplomat.
  • retired: Sir John Whitehead ( Old Blue ) is a retired diplomat, formerly HM Ambassador to Japan.
  • Cuban: Following the rally, a huge car caravan accompanied the Cuban diplomat to the capital's international airport.
  • Iranian: The militants later claimed they had received their orders from Iranian diplomats stationed in Turkey.
  • Russian: The Russian diplomat would not discuss how the archives are to be returned.
  • Arab: Arab diplomats said the delegation first would go to New York.

Noun used with modifier

  • career: The UN mission in DRC is led by US career diplomat William Swing.
  • council: Two other council diplomats said a vote was expected early next week.

Possessives

  • wife: Like diplomats ' wives they are subsumed by their husband's careers.

Possessives

  • country: Mr Kirchner is not advocating another bout of war but has ordered his country's diplomats to pursue the policy more aggressively.
diplomat Quotes

   A diplomat these days isnothing but a head waiter who's allowed to sit down occasionally.

—Ustinov, Sir PeterAlexander

The only decent diplomat is a deaf Trappist.

—Le Carre¤  ,John pseudonym of  David John Moore Cornwell

Browse dictionary entries near diplomat

  1. diplomacy
  2. diploma mill
  3. diploma
  4. diploid
  5. diploe
  6. diplodocus
  7. diplococcus
  8. diploblastic
  9. diplo-
  10. diplex
  1. diplomate
  2. diplomatic
  3. diplomatic immunity
  4. diplont
  5. diplopia
  6. diplopod
  7. diplosis
  8. dipnoan
  9. dipody
  10. dipole