Meaning & use
diplomatist
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableformalrare
A person whose job is to represent their country's government in another country.
Grammar: Countable: use a/an and a plural -s, as in 'a skilled diplomatist'.
Patterns
- a diplomatist in a country
- serve as a diplomatist
He spent thirty years as a diplomatist in Asia and Europe.
The treaty was drafted by a senior diplomatist from the foreign ministry.
Modern writers usually say 'diplomat' rather than 'diplomatist'.
nouncountableformalrare
A person who is good at dealing with people politely and without causing offense.
Grammar: Countable; often used approvingly of someone's tactful manner.
Patterns
- a diplomatist in negotiations
She is a quiet diplomatist who can calm any heated meeting.
As a diplomatist, he avoided saying anything that might embarrass his hosts.
Word forms
| plural | diplomatists |
|---|
Common combinations
- a career diplomatist
- The post went to a career diplomatist with long experience abroad.
- a skilled diplomatist
- Only a skilled diplomatist could have kept both sides talking.
- serve as a diplomatist
- He served as a diplomatist in three different embassies.
- a veteran diplomatist
- A veteran diplomatist was called in to lead the talks.
Synonyms and how they differ
- diplomat
- This is the normal everyday word; 'diplomatist' sounds old-fashioned or literary.
- envoy
- An envoy is sent on a specific mission, while a diplomatist works at an embassy more permanently.
- ambassador
- An ambassador is the senior diplomat at one embassy, a narrower and higher-ranking role.
Word family
- diplomatic adjective
- relating to relations between countries, or tactful in manner
- diplomacy noun
- the activity of managing relations between countries
- diplomatically adverb
- in a way that is careful not to offend anyone
Commonly confused: diplomatist or diplomatic? diplomatist or diplomat?
diplomatist vs diplomatic
'Diplomatic' is an adjective; 'diplomatist' is a rare noun for a person.
diplomatist vs diplomat
Same meaning, but 'diplomat' is the usual modern word and 'diplomatist' is dated.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'diplomatist' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Diplomatist' is a noun for a person, so it fits 'worked as a diplomatist'. Options 1 and 3 need the adjective 'diplomatic', and option 4 needs the noun 'diplomacy'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “diplomatist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.