persona non grata

noun

per·​so·​na non gra·​ta pər-ˈsō-nə-ˌnän-ˈgra-tə How to pronounce persona non grata (audio) -ˈgrä- How to pronounce persona non grata (audio)
plural personae non gratae pər-ˈsō-(ˌ)nē-ˌnän-ˈgra-(ˌ)tē How to pronounce persona non grata (audio)
-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

Examples of persona non grata in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rasool was declared persona non grata by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a post on X on March 14. arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2025 The woman who brings the funk to the home is June, who has become something of a persona non grata in the community, a resident believed to snatch up the ground-round, top-choice meat and keep it for herself. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025 Bannon battles Musk The war between one of Trump’s original backers and one of his most recent converts is raging on, as former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has vowed to make Musk persona non grata in the new administration. Brett Samuels, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025 When his first term ended, Trump was persona non grata politically, and the Secret Service senior leadership team was focused on protecting then-President Biden. Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for persona non grata

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, unacceptable person

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of persona non grata was in 1877

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Persona non grata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persona%20non%20grata. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!