statesman
noun
states·man
ˈstāts-mən 
1
: one versed in the principles or art of government
especially
: one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government or in shaping its policies
2
: a wise, skillful, and respected political leader
Examples of statesman in a Sentence
He was a soldier and statesman.
Recent Examples on the Web
The tombs of three prominent statesmen from the New Kingdom era (1539 to 1077 BCE) have been uncovered in Luxor, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
—
Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
Pietrangelo is the eldest statesman, turning 36 next season, and still has two more years left on his contract with an $8.8 million cap hit.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 May 2025
But Trump’s tariffs have given Xi an opportunity to portray himself as the more responsible and reliable statesman.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Many at the United Nations are nostalgic for the tenure of Kofi Annan (1997–2006), who was both admired as a statesman and had the fortune of being in charge when the world had only one superpower.
—Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for statesman
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
Pietrangelo is the eldest statesman, turning 36 next season, and still has two more years left on his contract with an $8.8 million cap hit.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 May 2025
But Trump’s tariffs have given Xi an opportunity to portray himself as the more responsible and reliable statesman.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
Many at the United Nations are nostalgic for the tenure of Kofi Annan (1997–2006), who was both admired as a statesman and had the fortune of being in charge when the world had only one superpower.
—Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for statesman
Cite this Entry
“Statesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statesman. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
statesman
noun
states·man
ˈstāt-smən
: a person engaged in fixing the policies and conducting the affairs of a government
especially
: one having unusual wisdom and skill in such matters
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share