statesman
Americannoun
-
statesmen
plural
-
a person who is experienced in the art of government or versed in the administration of government affairs.
-
a person who exhibits great wisdom and ability in directing the affairs of a government or in dealing with important public issues.
noun
-
a political leader whose wisdom, integrity, etc, win great respect
-
a person active and influential in the formulation of high government policy, such as a cabinet member
-
a politician
Synonym Usage
See politician.
Gender
See -man.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
statesmanshipnoun
-
stateswomannoun
-
superstatesmannoun
-
statesman-likeadjective
-
statesmanlikeadjective
-
statesmanlyadjective
-
unstatesmanlikeadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of statesman
First recorded in 1585–95; state + 's 1 + -man, modeled on steersman; compare the phrase ship of state
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The club have mainly targeted players aged 20 and under from abroad, having already recruited Jaouen, Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba, so Hornicek will feel like something of an elder statesman in comparison.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The name is a nod to the best friend and literary collaborator of Cicero, the Roman statesman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
“I think that united us even more,” said winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who spoke eloquently in English postmatch, a gracious statesman in Adidas sneakers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
Letterman is enjoying his elder statesman status with an interview show on Netflix, “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,” that he makes on his own schedule.
From Salon ● May 21, 2026
We consider George Washington a statesman because he spent tax money on widely admired programs and did not enrich himself as president.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Malick Thiaw was among the elder statesmen as he led Newcastle out as captain on his 25th birthday and this side will certainly need youthful vigour to play Jaissle's intense brand of football.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
As Ms. Fletcher emphasizes, handguns were increasingly associated with one specific crime—the assassination of high-profile statesmen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Peter Stolypin, one of the most accomplished Russian statesmen of the era, loathed Rasputin but couldn’t convince the czar to banish him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
The elder statesmen of proto punk isn’t just another act on the Coachella bill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026
Train after train now entered Chicago bringing statesmen, princes, and tycoons from all over the world.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
