statesman

[steyts-muh n]

See more synonyms for statesman on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural states·men.

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.

Origin of statesman

1585–95; state + 's¹ + -man, modeled on steersman; compare the phrase ship of state

Related formsstates·man·like, states·man·ly, adjectivesu·per·states·man, noun, plural su·per·states·men.un·states·man·like, adjective

Synonyms

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1. See politician.

Usage note

See -man.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for statesman

Contemporary Examples

In Canning he found, or rather projected, “a genius, almost a universal one, an orator, a wit, a poet, a statesman.”
Poet and Rake, Lord Byron Was Also an Interventionist With Brains and Savvy
Michael Weiss
February 16, 2014
“Statesman and savants, builders and even priests are their servants,” intoned Time.
The Revolt Against the Masses and the Roots of Modern Liberalism
Fred Siegel
January 26, 2014
And yet her call for a plebiscite smacks as much of political despair than a statesman's conviction.
Dilma Rousseff’s Dilemma
Mac Margolis
July 7, 2013
Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian writer and statesman who changed African literature forever, has died at the age of 82.
Chinua Achebe Dies: Beyond ‘Things Fall Apart,’ And His Best Books
The Daily Beast
March 22, 2013
They remember “RN,” as they call him, as a statesman, a hero, a peacemaker.
Richard Nixon’s 100th Birthday Draws Kissinger & Others to Schmaltzy Bash
Sandra McElwaine
January 10, 2013

Historical Examples

It was then that his great career as a European statesman really began.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes
As compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being alive.
The Devil's Dictionary
Ambrose Bierce
In politics, an imaginary rat-pit in which the statesman wrestles with his record.
The Devil's Dictionary
Ambrose Bierce
A statesman who shakes the fruit trees of his neighbors —to dislodge the worms.
The Devil's Dictionary
Ambrose Bierce
This dashing young Barnacle, in a word, was likely to become a statesman, and to make a figure.
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for statesman

statesman

noun plural -men

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

Derived Formsstatesman-like or statesmanly, adjectivestatesmanship, nounstateswoman, fem n

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

Word Origin and History for statesman

n.

1590s, after French homme d'état; see state (n.1) + man (n.).

statesman

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}statesman

Synonyms

Usage note

Related Words

Examples from the Web for statesman

Contemporary Examples

In Canning he found, or rather projected, “a genius, almost a universal one, an orator, a wit, a poet, a statesman.”

“Statesman and savants, builders and even priests are their servants,” intoned Time.

And yet her call for a plebiscite smacks as much of political despair than a statesman's conviction.

Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian writer and statesman who changed African literature forever, has died at the age of 82.

They remember “RN,” as they call him, as a statesman, a hero, a peacemaker.

Historical Examples

It was then that his great career as a European statesman really began.

As compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being alive.

In politics, an imaginary rat-pit in which the statesman wrestles with his record.

A statesman who shakes the fruit trees of his neighbors —to dislodge the worms.

This dashing young Barnacle, in a word, was likely to become a statesman, and to make a figure.

statesman

Word Origin and History for statesman

n.

Origin of statesman