Definition
Officials representing their country abroad and conducting negotiations between nations. People skilled in dealing with others tactfully.
Etymology
From French 'diplomate', derived from Latin 'diploma' meaning 'folded paper' or 'official document'. Originally referred to those who studied historical documents, then evolved to mean those who handle official international documents and negotiations.
Kelly Says
The word diplomat literally means 'one who deals with folded papers', reflecting the ancient practice of folding official documents to prevent tampering. Modern diplomacy still relies heavily on carefully crafted written agreements, maintaining that connection to its documentary origins.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
የውጭ ግንኙነት ባለሙያ
yewoch gīnīnēt balēmuyā
ARالعربية
دبلوماسيون
diblūmāsīyūn
BNবাংলা
কূটনীতিবিদ
kūṭanītibid
CACatalà
diplomàtics
dee-ploh-MAH-tiks
CSČeština
diplomaté
dee-ploh-MAH-teh
DADansk
diplomater
dee-ploh-MAH-teh
DEDeutsch
Diplomaten
dee-ploh-MAH-ten
ELΕλληνικά
διπλωμάτες
diploomátes
ESEspañol
diplomáticos
dee-ploh-MAH-tee-kohs
FAفارسی
دیپلماتها
dīplomāt-hā
FISuomi
diplomaatit
dee-ploh-MAH-tit
FRFrançais
diplomates
dee-ploh-MAH-tay
HAHA
masu ilimi na diplomatiki
mah-soo ee-lee-mee nah dee-ploh-MAH-tee-kee
HEעברית
דיפלומטים
diplo'matim
HIहिन्दी
राजनयिक
rājanayik
HUMagyar
diplomáciai
dee-ploh-MAH-see-ai
IDBahasa Indonesia
diplomat
dee-ploh-MAH-t
IGIG
ndị ndọrọ ndọrọ
ndee ndoh-roh ndoh-roh
ITItaliano
diplomatici
dee-ploh-MAH-tee-chee
KKKK
дипломаттар
dyplomattar
KMKM
អ្នកការទូត
âknéa kār tūt
MSBahasa Melayu
diplomat
dee-ploh-MAH-t
MYမြန်မာ
နိုင်ငံတက်များ
nàiṅ ngǎn tèt myā
NLNederlands
diplomaten
dee-ploh-MAH-ten
NONorsk
diplomater
dee-ploh-MAH-teh
PLPolski
dyplomaci
dee-ploh-MAH-tsee
PTPortuguês
diplomáticos
dee-ploh-MAH-tee-kohs
RORomână
diplomați
dee-ploh-MAH-tsee
RUРусский
дипломаты
dee-ploh-MAH-ty
SVSvenska
diplomater
dee-ploh-MAH-teh
SWKiswahili
madiplomasia
mah-dee-ploh-MAH-see-ah
TAதமிழ்
தூதர்கள்
tūtarkaḷ
TEతెలుగు
రాయబారులు
rāyabārulu
TLTL
mga diplomatiko
mahngah dee-ploh-MAH-tee-koh
TRTürkçe
diplomatlar
dee-ploh-MAH-tlah
UKУкраїнська
дипломати
dyplomaty
URاردو
سفارت کار
sifārt kār
VITiếng Việt
nhân viên ngoại giao
nhan vien ngoai giao
YOYO
àwọn àṣẹ
ah-wohn ah-sheh
ZUZU
odiplomasi
oh-dee-ploh-MAH-see
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Diplomatic corps historically male-dominated; 'diplomat' often defaults to male pronoun in text. Women diplomats were long excluded or chronicled as exceptions.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'diplomats' in gender-neutral form; when referring to individuals, use names or requested pronouns.
Inclusive Alternatives
["envoys","negotiators","representatives"]
Empowerment Note
Women diplomats like Eleanor Roosevelt, Barbara Castle, and Jeane Kirkpatrick shaped international relations; acknowledge their agency in diplomatic history.