statesman

[steyts-muhn]

noun

plural

statesmen 

1. a person who is experienced in the art of government or versed in the administration of government affairs.

2. a person who exhibits great wisdom and ability in directing the affairs of a government or in dealing with important public issues.

statesman

/ ˈsteɪtsmən /

noun

1. a political leader whose wisdom, integrity, etc, win great respect

2. a person active and influential in the formulation of high government policy, such as a cabinet member

3. a politician

Gender Note

See -man.

Other Word Forms

• statesmanlike adjective
• statesmanly adjective
• superstatesman noun
• unstatesmanlike adjective
• statesman-like adjective
• stateswoman noun
• statesmanship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of statesman¹

First recorded in 1585–95; state + 's ¹ + -man, modeled on steersman; compare the phrase ship of state

Synonym Study

See politician.

Example Sentences

Gretzky had scored at a devastating clip for an absurdly long time—20 NHL seasons that saw him turn from a wiry 18-year-old into the league’s elder statesman.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Young from two feet closer, drained his and the youngest man on the US team had beaten Europe's elder statesman. 12-6.

Read more on BBC

“He’s the older statesman guy over here,” Skipper said of a coach who was Fresno State’s defensive coordinator a quarter of a century ago when Skipper was a middle linebacker.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The question now is whether he, as one of the country’s elder statesmen, will boldly stand up in defense of democracy, or let himself be symbolically pilloried — or worse.

Read more on Salon

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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lawmaker 
• legislator 
• politician