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

The unidentified fans will be persona non grata for the rest of the tournament, though their future CWS attendance will be decided by ballpark management, local law enforcement and the NCAA, a stadium official said. —David K. Li, NBC News, 18 June 2024

The rift turned into a complete divide in 2008, when Lieberman endorsed John McCain for president, spoke at the Republican National Convention and largely become persona non grata with many Democrats nationwide. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2024

Even though the Soviet Union contributed mightily to the defeat of the Nazis, this year Putin is persona non grata, as the shadow of war again hangs over the continent, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. —Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 5 June 2024

Ecuador responded to López Obrador’s remarks by declaring the Mexican ambassador persona non grata. —Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, unacceptable person

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above