grata

Grata is the feminine form of the Latin adjective gratus/gratus, meaning pleasing, welcome, or grateful. In Latin, grata agrees with feminine nouns; the masculine form is gratus and the neuter form is gratum. The term appears in classical and later Latin to describe things or people deemed acceptable or agreeable.

In English, grata is most familiar from the fixed expressions persona grata and persona non grata. Persona grata literally means “a welcome person” and is used to describe someone who is acceptable or permitted in a particular country, organization, or social circle. The opposite, persona non grata, denotes an unwelcome person and is commonly used in diplomacy and international relations to indicate that a person must leave or cease activities within a host state.

Diplomatic practice: A host government may declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata, typically requiring departure within a specified period. Conversely, a diplomat can be granted or reaffirmed as persona grata, signaling acceptable status and continued accreditation. These designations are formal and are usually announced through official channels; they reflect shifts in relations, policy, or security considerations.

Other usage: outside diplomacy, the term can describe individuals or groups regarded as welcome within a community or organization, though the Latin phrase is primarily encountered in formal or legal contexts. Grata therefore functions mainly as part of two influential Latin expressions that signal welcome or rejection within social, ceremonial, and diplomatic frameworks. See also persona non grata, persona grata.