persona non grata
C2 (Very Low Frequency)Formal, Legal, Diplomatic, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A person who is not welcome or acceptable, especially to a foreign government.
More broadly, a person who is unwelcome or excluded from a group, organization, or social situation, often due to disapproval of their actions or behavior.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is typically used as a singular countable noun (a persona non grata). The Latin plural 'personae non gratae' is rarely used in English; the anglicized plural 'persona non gratas' is more common. It is often used metaphorically outside of diplomatic contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage or meaning. It is equally formal and specialized in both variants.
Connotations
In both, carries strong connotations of official or severe disapproval and exclusion.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, found in similar formal/diplomatic/journalistic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
declare + [person/object pronoun] + persona non gratabe/remain + persona non grata (with/in)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to be) on the blacklist”
- “sent to Coventry (UK, informal)”
- “in the doghouse (informal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically for an executive or professional who is ostracized after a scandal or failure.
Academic
Appears in political science, international relations, and historical texts discussing diplomacy.
Everyday
Rare. Used humorously or hyperbolically (e.g., 'After I forgot her birthday, I was persona non grata for a week.').
Technical
A formal diplomatic status declared by a host state, requiring the recalled individual's home country to withdraw them.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not typically used at this level. Use 'not welcome' instead.)
- The politician is not welcome in many countries now.
- Following the scandal, the former CEO became persona non grata in the business community.
- The government declared three diplomats persona non grata, giving them 48 hours to leave the country.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a NON-GRATEFUL (non grata) PERSON (persona) who is so ungrateful they become UNWELCOME.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/POLITICAL EXCLUSION IS DIPLOMATIC EXPULSION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating word-for-word as 'нежелательная персона'. The established Russian calque 'персона нон грата' is correct and widely understood in formal contexts.
- In informal Russian, the meaning is better captured by phrases like 'нежелательный элемент' or 'персона, которой здесь не рады'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'persona non gratis' (confusing Latin feminine 'grata' with neuter plural 'gratis').
- Using it as a plural without change ('persona non gratas' is acceptable; 'personas non grata' is incorrect).
- Overusing in informal contexts where simpler words like 'unwelcome' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'persona non grata' MOST precisely and formally used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, yes, as it is a foreign phrase. However, in modern usage, especially in journalistic and political texts, it is often not italicized, indicating its assimilation into English terminology.
Typically, no. It is almost exclusively used for persons. Using it for objects is a metaphorical extension and is very rare.
The direct opposite is 'persona grata' (a welcome or acceptable person), though this term is far less common in general English.
British: /pəˌsəʊnaɪ nɒn ˈɡrɑːtaɪ/; American: /pərˈsoʊnaɪ nɑːn ˈɡrɑːtaɪ/. However, most English speakers would use the simpler 'persona non gratas' (/pəˌsəʊnə nɒn ˈɡrɑːtəz/).