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

Examples of persona non grata in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In season three, creator Julian Fellowes rewards O’Hara’s patience with a juicy scandal: The season opens with Aurora’s husband, Charles (Ward Horton), asking for a divorce, a request that would render her persona non grata among her peers. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 June 2025

Ultimately, Barr believes that resisting the LGBTQ+ grandchild storyline made her persona non grata at ABC. —Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 6 June 2025

Wintour has said, however, that US President Trump is persona non grata at the event. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 6 May 2025

Either way, his status as persona non grata in Hollywood hardly matters to him. —Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, unacceptable person

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for persona non grata

• acuminata
• desiderata
• fasciculata
• microbiota
• agata
• bharata
• cantata
• costata
• ephrata
• errata
• falcata
• mahratta