English Reference
noun

diplomat

n.
US /ˈdɪpɫəˌmæt/ UK /dˈɪpləmˌæt/ diplo·mat UK spelling diplomat's, diplomat's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    an official whose job is to represent their country in a foreign country.

    an official, such as an ambassador or consul, appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organisation.

    Simple

    The diplomat spent three years working at the embassy in Tokyo.

    In context

    Senior diplomats from both nations met behind closed doors to negotiate the terms of the new trade agreement before the summit began.

A year after UN plastics treaty negotiations collapsed in Geneva in 2025, diplomats met informally in Nairobi between 30 June and 3 July, aiming to flesh out a new “no surprises” document.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

Foucher, 65, has been serving as his country's top diplomat in Bangui since 2023.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

From French diplomate, a back-formation from diplomatique (“diplomatic”), ultimately from Ancient Greek δίπλωμα (díplōma, “double-folded document”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek δίπλωμα
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated