persona non grata
noun
per·so·na non gra·ta
pər-ˈsō-nə-ˌnän-ˈgra-tə
-ˈgrä-
plural personae non gratae
pər-ˈsō-(ˌ)nē-ˌnän-ˈgra-(ˌ)tē
-ˈgrä-,
-ˌnī-,
-ˌtī
: a person who is unacceptable or unwelcome
Luis Villoro is hardly a persona non grata. As he approaches the age of eighty, his position in the intelligentsia is secure.—Scott Sherman
—typically used without a or the… English scientist James Lovelock, co-author of the Gaia hypothesis and once an environmental demigod. Lovelock has become persona non grata by saying that the ecosphere is so resilient no amount of human malfeasance, including nuclear war, could end life.—Gregg Easterbrook
"We'd been very good friends for millions of years and I thought it was a bit much for them suddenly to be personae non gratae and out of my life."—Paul McCartney
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share