Diplomacy is the activity or profession of managing relations between the governments of different countries.
Today's UN resolution will be a significant success for American diplomacy.
The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.
Synonyms: statesmanship, foreign affairs, international relations, statecraft More Synonyms of diplomacy
2. See also shuttle diplomacy
3. uncountable noun
Diplomacy is the skill of being careful to say or do things which will not offend people.
He stormed off in a fury, and it took all Minnelli's powers of diplomacy to get himto return.
Synonyms: tact, skill, sensitivity, craft More Synonyms of diplomacy
diplomacy in British English
(dɪˈpləʊməsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-cies
1.
the conduct of the relations of one state with another by peaceful means
2.
skill in the management of international relations
3.
tact, skill, or cunning in dealing with people
Word origin
C18: from French diplomatie, from diplomatiquediplomatic
diplomacy in American English
(dəˈploʊməsi)
noun
1.
the conducting of relations between nations, as in building up trade, making treaties, etc.
2.
skill in doing this
3.
skill in dealing with people; tact
SIMILAR WORDS: tact
Word origin
Fr diplomatie < diplomate: see diplomat
Examples of 'diplomacy' in a sentence
diplomacy
This is top-drawer diplomacy, conducted discreetly with cards close to the chest.
The Sun (2016)
The economic pivot east will rebalance international diplomacy and security efforts as the US seeks to remain the world's leading power.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Wise teachers know that the solution is always honesty coupled with tact and diplomacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
With such industrial power came influence and other members of the family entered politics and diplomacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The suspicion is that much of his international diplomacy is conducted in a similarly conciliatory way.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
International economic diplomacy is usually conducted behind closed doors.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are other times when we might avoid a war by more careful diplomacy.
Christianity Today (2000)
Use intuition to get the feel of things and tact and diplomacy to sort them out.
The Sun (2015)
This will require some nimble politics and diplomacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It is a reasonable expectation that diplomacy must be conducted in an atmosphere of trust.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
International diplomacy relies on a common language and shared objectives.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He is full of tact and diplomacy and good leaders are like that.
The Sun (2012)
They are not about politics or diplomacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But they must approach with the utmost diplomacy and tact.
Thomas Blaikie Blaikie's Guide to Modern Manners (2005)
It was an act of quiet diplomacy of the kind western leaders and businessmen insist works so well.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The ambiguities of courtly love were supposed to have prepared him for the veiled language of international diplomacy.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
British diplomacy should stand with it.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Your diplomacy skills will be called on today when friends don't see eye to eye.
The Sun (2015)
To some he has tarnished British diplomacy to such an extent that we are irrelevant.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Patient diplomacy, careful negotiation and detailed policy must move leaders together.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That deal was forged largely through British diplomacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Covering diplomacy, one learns to listen not just for what people say but also for what they do not say.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Score one for papal diplomacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
While his appetite for inquiry exceeded his skills in diplomacy, that is the right balance for the academic in public service.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I don't know how you conduct diplomacy in that way.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But the next stage of the process requires the Prime Minister to display the more subtle skill of meticulous diplomacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Quotations
Diplomacy is to do and say The nastiest thing in the nicest wayIsaac GoldbergThe Reflex
A soft answer turneth away wrathBible: Proverbs
A word spoken in due season, how good is it!Bible: Proverbs
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silverBible: Proverbs
In other languages
diplomacy
British English: diplomacy NOUN
Diplomacy is the activity or profession of managing relations between the governments of different countries.
Today's Security Council resolution will be a significant success for diplomacy.
American English: diplomacy
Brazilian Portuguese: diplomacia
Chinese: 外交
European Spanish: diplomacia
French: diplomatie
German: Diplomatie
Italian: diplomazia
Japanese: 外交
Korean: 외교
European Portuguese: diplomacia
Latin American Spanish: diplomacia
Chinese translation of 'diplomacy'
diplomacy
(dɪˈpləuməsɪ)
n(u)
(between governments) 外交 (wàijiāo)
(= tact) 外交手腕 (wàijiāo shǒuwàn)
1 (noun)
Definition
the conduct of the relations between nations by peaceful means
Today's resolution is significant for American diplomacy.
Synonyms
statesmanship
foreign affairs
international relations
statecraft
international negotiation
2 (noun)
Definition
tact or skill in dealing with people
It took all his powers of diplomacy to get them to work together.
Synonyms
tact
Her tact and intuition never failed.
skill
The cut of a diamond depends on the skill of its craftsman.
sensitivity
the obvious sensitivity of the issue
craft
They defeated their enemies through craft and cunning.
discretion
This task requires the utmost discretion.
subtlety
They had obviously been hoping to approach the topic with more subtlety.
delicacy
He's shown considerable delicacy and tact.
finesse
handling diplomatic challenges with finesse
savoir-faire
a certain savoir-faire that comes from living with the best
artfulness
Opposites
awkwardness
,
clumsiness
,
thoughtlessness
,
ineptness
,
tactlessness
Quotations
Diplomacy is to do and say The nastiest thing in the nicest way [Isaac Goldberg – The Reflex]A soft answer turneth away wrath [Bible: Proverbs]A word spoken in due season, how good is it! [Bible: Proverbs]A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver [Bible: Proverbs]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of craft
Definition
cunning or guile
They defeated their enemies through craft and cunning.
Synonyms
cunning,
ingenuity,
guile,
cleverness,
scheme,
subtlety,
deceit,
ruse,
artifice,
trickery,
wiles,
duplicity,
subterfuge,
contrivance,
shrewdness,
craftiness,
artfulness
in the sense of delicacy
Definition
refinement of feeling, manner, or appreciation
He's shown considerable delicacy and tact.
Synonyms
sensitivity,
understanding,
consideration,
judgment,
perception,
diplomacy,
discretion,
skill,
finesse,
tact,
thoughtfulness,
savoir-faire,
adroitness,
sensitiveness
in the sense of discretion
Definition
the quality of behaving so as to avoid social embarrassment or distress