diplomatic
gb/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk/ us/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk/
B2
English
~ 6700
tapintatos, diplomatikus, diplomáciai, betűhű
B2
1
tapintatos
B2
diplomatikus
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is diplomatic about [something]; a diplomatic [answer/response/approach]
She gave a diplomatic answer that didn’t blame either side.
Diplomatikus választ adott, amelyben egyik felet sem hibáztatta.
You’ll need to be very diplomatic when you tell him his idea was rejected.
Nagyon tapintatosnak kell lenned, amikor elmondod neki, hogy elutasították az ötletét.
His email was more diplomatic than his first angry draft.
The manager tried to find a diplomatic way to end the meeting early.
That was not the most diplomatic thing to say in front of the client.
Learner examples
My boss is very diplomatic with customers.
A főnököm nagyon tapintatosan bánik az ügyfelekkel.
He tried to be diplomatic and not hurt her feelings.
Próbált tapintatos lenni, hogy ne bántsa meg az érzéseit.
Please give a diplomatic answer to this question.
She used diplomatic language in the meeting.
I was not diplomatic and I made my friend upset.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "diplomatic" with "political". "Diplomatic" here means tactful and careful with people, not related to politics or government. Also, "diplomatic" is an adjective; do not say *"He is a diplomatic"* (use "He is a diplomat" or "He is very diplomatic").
Meaning
tactful and careful with people
Collocations
diplomatic answer
|diplomatic response
|diplomatic approach
|very diplomatic
|diplomatic tone
|diplomatic skills
Synonyms
tactful (Very close in meaning; focuses more strongly on being sensitive to other people's feelings.)
Antonyms
blunt (Describes speaking in a very direct way that often seems rude or hurts feelings, the opposite of diplomatic.)
Themes
social
|work
|communication
|relationships
Definition
good at speaking or acting in a careful way so that people are not upset or angry
Skilled at dealing with people or sensitive situations in a way that avoids giving offense or causing conflict.
C1
FORMAL
2
diplomáciai
B2
Usage pattern:
diplomatic [relations/mission/pressure/solution]
The two countries restored full diplomatic relations after years of tension.
A két ország az évekig tartó feszültség után helyreállította a teljes körű diplomáciai kapcsolatokat.
He spent most of his career in the diplomatic service in Asia.
Pályafutása nagy részét Ázsiában töltötte a diplomáciai szolgálatban.
Sanctions are part of a broader diplomatic strategy to avoid war.
A diplomatic mission was sent to negotiate the release of the hostages.
The government prefers a diplomatic solution rather than a military one.
Learner examples
France and Japan have strong diplomatic relations.
Franciaországnak és Japánnak szoros diplomáciai kapcsolatai vannak.
She works in the diplomatic service of her country.
A hazája diplomáciai szolgálatában dolgozik.
They hope to find a diplomatic way to end the conflict.
Diplomatic talks will continue next week.
The crisis was solved by diplomatic, not military, action.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "diplomatic" when they mean "international" in general. "Diplomatic" should connect specifically to government-to-government work (embassies, negotiations, treaties), not just anything involving more than one country.
Meaning
about relations between countries
Collocations
diplomatic relations
|diplomatic mission
|diplomatic service
|diplomatic pressure
|diplomatic efforts
|diplomatic solution
Synonyms
foreign-policy (Used before nouns in political contexts; focuses on a country's strategy toward other countries rather than the practical work of diplomats.)
Antonyms
military (In international conflicts, a military option uses force, while a diplomatic option uses negotiation and political discussion.)
Themes
politics
|international relations
|law
Definition
about the official work of governments talking and working with other countries instead of using force
Relating to the work of managing official relations between countries, especially through negotiations and representatives such as ambassadors.
C2
TECHNICAL
3
diplomatikus
C2
betűhű
C1
Usage pattern:
a diplomatic [edition/transcript/transcription]
The diplomatic edition reproduces the manuscript line by line, including all spelling errors.
A diplomatikus kiadás sorról sorra adja vissza a kéziratot, az összes helyesírási hibával együtt.
Scholars first produced a diplomatic transcript before preparing the critical edition.
A kutatók először diplomatikus átiratot készítettek, mielőtt hozzáláttak a kritikai kiadáshoz.
A diplomatic transcription is essential when studying how the original document was written.
This volume contains a diplomatic text alongside a modernized version.
They compared the diplomatic and normalized versions to track changes in spelling.
Learner examples
The book gives a diplomatic edition of the old letter.
A könyv a régi levél diplomatikus kiadását közli.
In a diplomatic transcript, even small mistakes are copied.
Egy diplomatikus átiratban még a kisebb hibákat is lemásolják.
Students read a diplomatic text and a modern text side by side.
A diplomatic edition helps us see the original writing clearly.
The researcher made a diplomatic copy of the 15th-century document.
Meaning
exact copy of an original text
Collocations
diplomatic edition
|diplomatic transcript
|diplomatic transcription
|diplomatic text
Synonyms
literal (In this academic context, both mean very close to the original, but "diplomatic" is more technical and specific to document editing.)
Antonyms
critical (A critical edition corrects and interprets a text; a diplomatic edition avoids changes and shows the document as it is.)
Themes
academia
|history
|linguistics
|education
|arts_entertainment
Definition
used in academic work to describe a written copy that follows an old document exactly, even with its mistakes
In textual scholarship, describing an edition or transcription that copies a historical document as exactly as possible, including its spelling, punctuation, and errors.
Grammar
Dictionary form
diplomatic
IPA
GB/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk/
US/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk/
Syllables & stress
dip - lo - mat - ic (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (mat)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: diplomatic
Word family
Expressions
break off diplomatic relations
1/bɹˈeɪk ˈɔf dˌɪpləmˈætɪk ɹilˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
formal
end official ties between countries
to stop official contact and talks between two countries
Examples
- After the attack, they broke off diplomatic relations with their neighbor.
- The government threatened to break off diplomatic relations over the scandal.
- Several countries have broken off diplomatic relations with the regime.
diplomatic bag
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk bˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
formal
protected mail for diplomats
a special bag or box that carries official papers between a country and its embassies, which other countries are not allowed to open
Examples
- The documents were sent in a diplomatic bag.
- Under international law, a diplomatic bag cannot be opened by customs.
- They discovered contraband hidden in a diplomatic bag, causing a scandal.
diplomatic channel
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk t͡ʃˈænəl/
fixed phrase
formal
official way for governments to talk
an official way for governments to send messages and talk to each other
Examples
- The message was delivered through diplomatic channels.
- They are using backdoor diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation.
- All complaints must go through proper diplomatic channels.
diplomatic efforts
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk ˈɛfɚts/
fixed phrase
formal
attempts to solve problems by talks
work by governments to fix problems or fights by talking and making agreements
Examples
- Diplomatic efforts to end the war have intensified.
- Despite months of diplomatic efforts, little progress has been made.
- The president praised international diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis.
diplomatic incident
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk ˈɪnsɪdənt/
fixed phrase
formal
event that harms relations between states
a bad event that makes relations between countries worse
Examples
- The arrest of the ambassador caused a major diplomatic incident.
- The comments sparked a diplomatic incident between the two allies.
- They worked quickly to limit the damage from the diplomatic incident.
diplomatic mission
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk mˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
official group representing a country
a group of diplomats who work in another country for their government
Examples
- The diplomatic mission was evacuated after the attack.
- She works at the country’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations.
- Several nations opened new diplomatic missions in the capital.
diplomatic pressure
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk pɹˈɛʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
political pressure using diplomacy
strong requests or demands from one country to another, using talks and politics, not force
Examples
- The government is facing intense diplomatic pressure to change its policy.
- Diplomatic pressure eventually persuaded them to sign the agreement.
- They hope diplomatic pressure will be enough to avoid sanctions.
diplomatic relations
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk ɹilˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
formal
official ties between countries
the official connection and regular talks between two countries
Examples
- The two nations established diplomatic relations in 1992.
- Diplomatic relations were cut after the border incident.
- They hope to normalize diplomatic relations within a year.
diplomatic row
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk ɹˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
serious argument between countries
a strong argument between countries that makes their relationship worse
Examples
- The comments sparked a diplomatic row with a key ally.
- The spying scandal triggered a major diplomatic row.
- The issue has caused a diplomatic row between the neighboring states.
diplomatic solution
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk səlˈuʃən/
fixed phrase
negotiated answer to a conflict
a way to end a problem or conflict by talking and making agreements, not by using force
Examples
- Leaders are still searching for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
- Both sides say they prefer a diplomatic solution over military action.
- The talks failed to produce a lasting diplomatic solution.
establish diplomatic relations
1/ɪstˈæblɪʃ dˌɪpləmˈætɪk ɹilˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
formal
start official relations between countries
to start official contact and talks between two countries
Examples
- The island nation is seeking to establish diplomatic relations with its neighbors.
- They officially established diplomatic relations after signing the peace agreement.
- Many countries refused to establish diplomatic relations with the new regime.
diplomatic corps
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk kˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
all foreign diplomats in one place
all the foreign diplomats who work in one city or country
Examples
- The entire diplomatic corps was invited to the king's coronation.
- Members of the diplomatic corps attended the state funeral.
- Members of the diplomatic corps attended the emergency briefing at the foreign ministry.
- The speech was addressed to the diplomatic corps in the capital.
- She is well known in the diplomatic corps for her long service.
- He is a respected figure within the diplomatic corps.
diplomatic immunity
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk ɪmjˈunɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
legal protection for diplomats
a special rule that means foreign diplomats are usually not punished by the local laws of the country they are in
Examples
- Because of diplomatic immunity, the envoy could not be prosecuted.
- Because of diplomatic immunity, the ambassador could not be arrested by local police.
- The case renewed debate over the limits of diplomatic immunity.
- The case raised questions about whether diplomatic immunity should be limited in serious crimes.
- He abused his diplomatic immunity to avoid paying fines.
- He reminded reporters that the official enjoyed diplomatic immunity while serving abroad.
diplomatic passport
1/dˌɪpləmˈætɪk pˈæspˌɔɹt/
fixed phrase
formal
special passport for diplomats
a special passport for diplomats and some government workers when they travel for work
Examples
- He travels on a diplomatic passport because he works for the foreign ministry.
- He travels on a diplomatic passport.
- Holders of a diplomatic passport often get special treatment at borders.
- Only staff with a diplomatic passport could use the fast-track lane.
- Her diplomatic passport allows her to enter some countries without a visa.
- Her diplomatic passport was revoked after the scandal.