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Synonyms

statecraft

American  
[stayt-kraft, -krahft] / ˈsteɪtˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft /

noun

  1. the art of government and diplomacy.


statecraft British  
/ ˈsteɪtˌkrɑːft /

noun

  1. the art of conducting public affairs; statesmanship

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of statecraft

First recorded in 1635–45; state + craft


Explanation

The ability to be a savvy and effective political leader is statecraft. If the President isn't skilled at statecraft, he or she will have a hard time accomplishing anything. A lot goes into statecraft, which is sometimes called "the art of governing." Political experience, diplomacy, and leadership skills are all essential to statecraft. The ultimate goal of statecraft depends on who is practicing it; for some it's power and for others it's world peace. The word statecraft has been used in English since the 17th century.

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Vocabulary lists containing statecraft

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:

She relishes the tedious sausage-making of statecraft, the kind of stuff that makes you and me bleed from our ears.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

A speech at the Pnyx, where Athenians once gathered for popular assemblies that birthed democracy, provided a perfect opportunity to link America First to ancient Greek statecraft.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026

Fourth, financial leadership is a central instrument of statecraft.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

During the Strait of Hormuz crisis, Seoul responded with serious statecraft — strategic stockpile swaps, diplomatic procurement missions, rapid diversification.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026

He whispered to them the secrets of steelcraft and statecraft.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

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