statesman
- 01 C1 Advanced
a male political leader who is respected for being wise and fair, especially in international relations.
a male political leader who is distinguished by his wisdom, integrity, and skill in governing or international diplomacy.
Simple“The retired president was seen as a great statesman who helped bring peace to the region.”
In context“He was widely regarded as a senior statesman, whose counsel was sought by leaders across the political spectrum during times of national crisis.”
UsageOften used to contrast a principled leader with a 'politician' who only cares about winning votes.
Antonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
a man who owns and lives on a small piece of land.
a man who owns and occupies a small landed estate.
Simple“The old statesman spent his days managing the small farm his family had owned for generations.”
In context“In the rural northern counties, the traditional statesman was a figure of independence, farming his own modest acreage without a landlord.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is specific to certain British dialects, particularly in Northern England, and is rarely encountered in modern international English.
From state + -s- + -man, modelled after French homme d'État.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.