diplomats

Meaning

1. 1nounplural

   Officials who represent their country's government in a foreign country.

   Grammar: This is the plural of 'diplomat'; the singular takes a/an: 'a diplomat'.

   Patterns

   • diplomats from a country
   • senior diplomats
   • expel diplomats

   Several diplomats were called home for urgent talks.

   The two countries expelled each other's diplomats after the dispute.

   Diplomats at the embassy spent weeks preparing the visit.

Word forms

Common combinations

senior diplomats

Senior diplomats met privately to discuss the crisis.

foreign diplomats

Foreign diplomats were invited to the ceremony.

expel diplomats

The government threatened to expel diplomats from the rival state.

a group of diplomats

A group of diplomats toured the border region.

talks between diplomats

Talks between diplomats continued late into the night.

Synonyms and how they differ

envoys

Envoys are sent on a particular mission, whereas diplomats usually work at an embassy long-term.

ambassadors

Ambassadors are the top diplomats in a country, so the word is narrower than 'diplomats'.

officials

Officials is much broader and includes many government workers who are not diplomats.

Word family

diplomat noun

one official who represents a country abroad

diplomatic adjective

relating to relations between countries, or tactful

diplomacy noun

the management of relations between countries

diplomatically adverb

in a careful, tactful way

Commonly confused: diplomats or diplomas?

Practice

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