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

• manners
• tact
• sensitivity
• gallantry
• tactfulness
• consideration

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

Matthew Doyle, a former adviser to Starmer, described the visit as a strategic blend of ceremony and diplomacy. —Amanda Castro hannah Parry shane Croucher jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

Occasionally, though, trade and investment come second to diplomacy. —Ian King, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025

More than a hub for commerce, Venice became a cultural broker that elevated wine from a farm product into a symbol of refinement, diplomacy, and civilization. —Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

State visits in Britain blend 21st-century diplomacy with royal pageantry. —Jill Lawless, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 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