diplomacy

noun

di·​plo·​ma·​cy də-ˈplō-mə-sē 

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

Synonyms

• tact
• tactfulness

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

His incarceration has become a test case for British diplomacy in Egypt—a test that Britain has largely failed. —Sam Knight, New Yorker, 23 May 2025

President Donald Trump reinforced this stance while on a regional visit, signaling that diplomacy remains possible but uncertain of success. —Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025

American diplomacy played an important role in tamping down previous conflicts over the territory in 1999 and 2019, but President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, respectively, were careful not to trumpet their interventions in those cases. —Vaibhav Vats, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025

Nobody said international diplomacy was going to be easy. —Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see diplomatic

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing diplomacy

• dollar diplomacy
• gunboat diplomacy
• shuttle diplomacy

Kids Definition

diplomacy

noun

di·​plo·​ma·​cy də-ˈplō-mə-sē 

1

: the work of keeping up relations between the governments of different countries

2

: skill in dealing with others without causing bad feelings : tact