Meaning & use
diplomatic passport
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
An official travel document issued to diplomats and their family members for international travel on government business.
Grammar: Countable; can be used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- have a diplomatic passport
- use a diplomatic passport
- issue a diplomatic passport
She traveled to the conference on a diplomatic passport.
Only ambassadors and their families can get a diplomatic passport.
The diplomat presented his diplomatic passport at the border.
Word forms
| plural | diplomatic passports |
|---|
Common combinations
- diplomatic immunity
- Diplomats often have diplomatic immunity from local laws.
- official passport
- He carries an official passport for government work.
- regular passport
- Most tourists travel on a regular passport.
- diplomatic passport holder
- Diplomatic passport holders can use the fast-track lane.
Synonyms and how they differ
- official passport
- Similar but not identical: an official passport is for government employees on official business, while a diplomatic passport is specifically for diplomats.
Opposites
Word family
- diplomat noun
- A person who represents their country abroad.
- diplomacy noun
- The management of international relations.
- diplomatic adjective
- Relating to diplomacy or diplomats.
Commonly confused: diplomatic passport or official passport?
diplomatic passport vs official passport
An official passport is for government workers on official business; a diplomatic passport is for diplomats and grants more privileges.
Practice
Who is most likely to carry a diplomatic passport?
Choose one answer.
An ambassador is a diplomat and would carry a diplomatic passport. Tourists, businesspeople, and students normally use regular passports.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “diplomatic passport”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.