persona non grata

[ per-soh-nah nohn grah-tah; English per-soh-nuh non grah-tuh, grey-, grat-uh ]

noun

, Latin.

, plural per·so·nae non gra·tae [pe, r, -, soh, -nahy nohn , grah, -tahy, per-, soh, -nee non , grah, -tee, grey, -, grat, -ee].

1. a person who is not welcome:

   He has become persona non grata in our club since his angry outburst.

2. a diplomatic representative unacceptable to an accrediting government.

persona non grata

/ pɜːˈsəʊnə nɒn ˈɡrɑːtə /

noun

1. an unacceptable or unwelcome person
2. a diplomatic or consular officer who is not acceptable to the government or sovereign to whom he or she is accredited

persona non grata

1. A person who is no longer favored or welcome: “After my angry words with the manager, I am persona non grata at the video store.” From Latin , meaning “an unacceptable person.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of persona non grata¹

First recorded in 1885–90