persona non grata
persona non grata — noun
1. a person, usually a diplomat or foreign official, whom a host country's governme
a person, usually a diplomat or foreign official, whom a host country's government officially considers unacceptable and orders to leave the country
Tomas was declared persona non grata after the government found his role in arms deals.
passive: be declared persona non grata
The Spanish ambassador was expelled and labeled persona non grata for interfering in the election.
Camila left before the order arrived, knowing the government would declare her persona non grata.
The foreign ministry named three intelligence officers as personas non gratae for espionage.
The general became persona non grata in the neighbouring country after ordering the airstrike.
- undesirable alien
a more technical, legal term focused on immigration status rather than diplomatic protocol
- deportee
focuses on the act of being sent away, not the official declaration of being unwelcome
- unwelcome person
less formal and lacks the diplomatic/official weight of persona non grata
- persona grata
the direct Latin opposite — a person who is accepted and welcome, especially in diplomatic circles
文法句型
be + persona non grata
declare + noun + persona non grata
label + noun + persona non grata
用法筆記
Frequently used in official diplomatic language. The plural form persona non gratae (or occasionally persons non grata) follows Latin grammar and is used when referring to multiple individuals. This sense carries legal force — declaring someone persona non grata is an official act that requires them to leave the host country.
常見錯誤
2. a person whom a particular social group rejects or avoids because they dislike t
a person whom a particular social group rejects or avoids because they dislike that person's opinions, character, or past behaviour
After the argument, Arjun became persona non grata among his former friends at work.
became persona non grata among [group]
Gabriel made rude remarks at dinner and the guests treated him as persona non grata.
Lakshmi felt like persona non grata at the club after she criticised the committee's decisions.
Yan was persona non grata in the community after refusing to help with the fundraiser.
- outcast
suggests a more permanent state of exclusion and carries a stronger emotional weight
- pariah
more intense and dramatic; implies total rejection by a community
- untouchable
strongly negative and carries social stigma; may be offensive in some contexts
- insider
someone who is fully accepted and part of the group
- welcome guest
stresses the opposite of being unwelcome
文法句型
be + persona non grata + among/in + group
become + persona non grata + among/in + group
feel like + persona non grata
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (DIPLOMATIC): in this SOCIAL sense, the rejection is unofficial and comes from friends, colleagues, or community members rather than a government. The word retains a formal, slightly dramatic tone even in social contexts — avoid using it for minor disagreements.
常見錯誤
3. someone whom a business, club, or institution tells to stay away after that pers
someone whom a business, club, or institution tells to stay away after that person's unacceptable conduct
Bao was declared persona non grata at the casino after the staff caught him cheating.
declared persona non grata at [place]
The restaurant owner told Cyrus he was persona non grata after he threatened a waiter.
The bar owner declared Stefan persona non grata and banned him after the fight.
The university declared the former student persona non grata on campus after the vandalism incident.
- excluded person
more neutral and general; lacks the Latin formality
- banned person
emphasises the official prohibition, common in legal contexts
- trespasser
a legal term for someone who enters despite being banned; stronger than persona non grata
文法句型
be + persona non grata + at + place
declare + noun + persona non grata + at + place
make + noun + persona non grata
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (DIPLOMATIC) and sense 2 (SOCIAL): this sense involves a specific physical location or institution (casino, restaurant, bar, school) rather than a government or a general social group. The rejection is usually documented (the place notifies the person) and may have a fixed duration.