persona non grata
noun
per·so·na non gra·ta
pər-ˈsō-nə-ˌnän-ˈgra-tə 
-ˈgrä-
-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 theScott Sherman… 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
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
Paul McCartneyExamples of persona non grata in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When his first term ended, Trump was persona non grata politically, and the Secret Service senior leadership team was focused on protecting then-President Biden.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2025
When things were going wrong at Manchester United, the story was about his decline, about the kid who was the future once but, for reasons too varied and nuanced to boil down into responsible talking points, had become persona non grata at Old Trafford.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Iran and its proxy militia are persona non grata, and Turkey appears poised to become the main military backer and arms supplier of Damascus.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Gascón became Hollywood’s persona non grata, just under a month before the Academy Awards ceremony.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persona non grata
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2025
When things were going wrong at Manchester United, the story was about his decline, about the kid who was the future once but, for reasons too varied and nuanced to boil down into responsible talking points, had become persona non grata at Old Trafford.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Iran and its proxy militia are persona non grata, and Turkey appears poised to become the main military backer and arms supplier of Damascus.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Gascón became Hollywood’s persona non grata, just under a month before the Academy Awards ceremony.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persona non grata
Cite this Entry
“Persona non grata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persona%20non%20grata. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share