diplospeak

English

Alternative forms

• diplo-speak

Noun

diplospeak (uncountable)

1. Diplomatic language; The careful use of euphemism and noncontroversial language to obscure points that might cause contention.
   • 1994, Newsweek - Volume 124, Issues 10-18, page 134:

     And he knows how to cut through the diplospeak: when Clinton politely asked Russia's Boris Yeltsin for his views on a Caspian Sea gas deal proposed by Chevron Oil.

   • 2001, Jose Armilla, Negotiate with Feng Shui, page 124:

     The hard-driving Cushing carried the title of "American Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary" — diplospeak for President Tyler's man on the spot.

   • 2008, John E. Owens, John Dumbrell, America's "war on Terrorism":, page 245:

     Following his August 2007 talks with President Bush in Washington, Brown fell back on coded diplospeak in their joint press conference.

   • 2018, Michael McFaul, From Cold War to Hot Peace:

     I defended our policy with journalists and critics, one night engaging in a “frank exchange of views”—to use the diplospeak I would later master as a U.S. ambassador —with Washington Post columnist Bob Kagan and New York Times columnist David Brooks on the merits of our approach.