stateswoman

American  

[steyts-woom-uhn] / ˈsteɪtsˌwʊm ən /

noun

stateswomen plural

1. a woman who is experienced in the art of government.

2. a woman who exhibits great wisdom and ability in directing the affairs of a government.

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Gender

See -woman.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• stateswomen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stateswoman

First recorded in 1600–10; states(man) + -woman

Example Sentences

As a stateswoman, Meloni appears to have a seat at every table, almost a regular at the White House and recently the only woman leader to attend the signing of the Gaza ceasefire in Egypt.

From Barron's • Oct. 20, 2025

A vital presence with a face as open as her husband’s, Paulina is both a celebrated actor and a political stateswoman who served as as Chile’s first Minister of Culture.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2023

At her final World Cup, Rapinoe was the elder stateswoman on a team that had 14 players appearing for the first time in the tournament.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 6, 2023

The Grammys enlisted pop music's elder stateswoman to introduce Sam Smith, a nonbinary performer, and Kim Petras, a trans woman, on the occasion of their history-making Grammy win for their chart-topping duet "Unholy."

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2023

I think you shine as a stateswoman of late, as well as a farmeress.

From Familiar Letters of John Adams and His Wife Abigail Adams During the Revolution with a Memoir of Mrs. Adams by Adams, Abigail