elder statesman

American  

noun

1. an influential citizen, often a retired high official, whose advice is sought by government leaders.

2. any influential member of a company, group, etc., whose advice is respected.

3. Japanese History. any of the political leaders who retired from official office but continued to exert a strong influence in the government and who controlled the emperor's privy council, especially in the period 1898–1914.

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elder statesman British  

noun

1. an old, experienced, and eminent person, esp a politician, whose advice is often sought

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Etymology

Origin of elder statesman

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

elder statesman

“Ridiculous” is C.K.’s way of letting the world know that when you brush aside his Teflon-coated fame and elder statesman standing, the 58-year-old star is really just old and exhausted.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

After his historic run of presidential campaigns, Jackson went on to position himself as an elder statesman within the Democratic Party.

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026

Even Nick Saban, the sport’s elder statesman, pronounced it all but dead.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025

Guided by his wife, Sharon, who was his manager and steadying force, Osbourne reinvented himself in the 1990s as an elder statesman of heavy metal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2025

It was used in reference to some nice old poopy elder statesman who’d made a fortune in the stock market and then gone to Washington to be an adviser to President Roosevelt.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger