diplomacy

noun

di·​plo·​ma·​cy də-ˈplō-mə-sē How to pronounce diplomacy (audio)
1
: the art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations
2
: skill in handling affairs without arousing hostility : tact
handled the awkward situation with diplomacy

Examples of diplomacy in a Sentence

She has had a long and distinguished career in diplomacy. The government avoided a war by successfully resolving the issues through diplomacy. This is a situation that calls for tactful diplomacy.
Recent Examples on the Web Brokering agreements Unlike with the Paris agreement, there was no downside to what was probably Dr. Kissinger’s single greatest achievement: the secret diplomacy that led to Nixon’s visit to China in February 1972, an event that reshaped the global balance of power. Thomas W. Lippman, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023 But Gideon Rose, the former editor of Foreign Affairs, ranks Kissinger’s record in service to Nixon and Gerald Ford second only to that of the trio of Harry Truman, Dean Acheson, and George Marshall, who established the postwar order, in the pantheon of American diplomacy. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2023 Yet Kissinger was reviled by many Americans for his conduct of wartime diplomacy. Nancy Benac, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2023 The unfolding crisis proved to be an ideal stage for Kissinger’s brand of diplomacy — secret, personal and contemptuous of the professional foreign service. Norman Kempster, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023 This article is based on interviews with American government officials, tech analysts and American and foreign business executives, some of whom agreed to speak only on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive diplomacy over G42. Edward Wong, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2023 And – but as part of that diplomacy – this is that delicate exchange, Palestinian prisoners, aid going in. CBS News, 26 Nov. 2023 The point of diplomacy This isn’t to say that diplomacy and face-to-face talks are pointless. Michael Beckley, The Conversation, 17 Nov. 2023 Btw, attacking and singling out one side or the other, however justified, not helpful, at all, serving only to rile up the other side, the opposite of diplomacy, which seeks to heal and solve, not blame and condemn. Meg Kelly, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diplomacy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see diplomatic

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diplomacy was in 1766

Dictionary Entries Near diplomacy

Cite this Entry

“Diplomacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diplomacy. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

diplomacy

noun
di·​plo·​ma·​cy də-ˈplō-mə-sē How to pronounce diplomacy (audio)
1
: the work of keeping up relations between the governments of different countries
2
: skill in dealing with others without causing bad feelings : tact

More from Merriam-Webster on diplomacy

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