diplomat

noun

dip·​lo·​mat ˈdi-plə-ˌmat How to pronounce diplomat (audio)
: one employed or skilled in diplomacy
a foreign diplomat

Examples of diplomat in a Sentence

The President will be meeting with foreign diplomats. He's a talented architect but a poor diplomat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump was and is the decider, and foreign leaders and diplomats have now figured that out. Saige Miller, NPR, 2 Aug. 2025 But a senior South African diplomat said talks had been complicated by Washington’s demands around laws that address racial inequalities caused by apartheid. semafor.com, 30 July 2025 The Baltic States’ diplomats expressed optimism over the pledge to increase spending and stressed the importance of cooperation between the allies. Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 28 July 2025 For the stretch between the end of World War II and the time Vietnam became the dominant story around the world, civil rights in the United States was a popular talking point that foreign diplomats would turn to as a rejoinder. Philip Elliott, Time, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for diplomat

Word History

Etymology

French diplomate, back-formation from diplomatique

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diplomat was in 1813

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diplomat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diplomat. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

diplomat

noun
dip·​lo·​mat ˈdip-lə-ˌmat How to pronounce diplomat (audio)
: a person employed or skilled in diplomacy

More from Merriam-Webster on diplomat

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