diplomatic
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
relating to the official work and relationships between the governments of different countries.
pertaining to the conduct of international relations by government officials or professional diplomats.
Simple“The two countries decided to end their diplomatic relationship after the disagreement.”
In context“The ambassador worked tirelessly to maintain diplomatic ties during the border dispute, hoping to avoid a complete breakdown in communication.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
being careful and polite so that you do not upset or offend people.
exhibiting tact, discretion, or sensitivity in dealing with others to avoid conflict or resentment.
Simple“She gave a very diplomatic answer when asked if she liked her boss.”
In context“The manager took a diplomatic approach to the staff dispute, ensuring that both parties felt heard without taking a side prematurely.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
describing a version of an old text that follows the original exactly, including any mistakes.
pertaining to a transcription or edition of a text that reproduces the original manuscript exactly, including orthographic idiosyncrasies.
Simple“The library published a diplomatic edition of the medieval poem.”
In context“The scholar insisted on a diplomatic transcription to preserve the original scribe's unique spelling and punctuation for further linguistic analysis.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'diplomatic edition'.
“The US withdrew its troops from Niger after the military seized power in a 2023 coup, while Niger’s authorities have since strengthened security and diplomatic ties with Russia.”
“This risks further deaths and inflamed diplomatic tensions between Morocco and Spain.”
From French diplomatique and its etymon New Latin diplōmaticus. By surface analysis, diplomat + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.