Undiplomatic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Behaving or speaking in a way that is tactless, insensitive, or likely to offend others in formal or delicate situations
2. Displaying a lack of finesse or tact in communication, which can lead to offending others in sensitive circumstances
3. Exhibiting a blunt or direct manner that disregards social niceties and may provoke discomfort in sensitive discussions

Etymology: "Undiplomatic" is simply the English prefix "un-", meaning "not", attached to "diplomatic." The prefix has been part of English since Old English, descending from a Germanic root that also gave German "un-" and Dutch "on-", so the negating element is far older than the word it now modifies. The base word "diplomatic" is the more layered part. It derives from French "diplomatique," which in turn comes from the Latin-based term for documents folded or doubled, and it originally referred to the study of official documents and charters before taking on its modern sense of relations between states. The meaning of "diplomatic" then broadened to describe skill in handling sensitive matters tactfully. Putting the two together produces a word meaning the reverse of that tact: speech or conduct that is clumsy, blunt, or likely to give offence where care is needed. The word's sense is therefore a direct logical negation rather than a separate coinage with its own history.

Synonyms: blunt, tactless

Antonyms: diplomatic, tactful