Department of State

noun phrase

: the part of the U.S. government that is responsible for how the U.S. deals with other countries

Examples of Department of State in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The United States Department of State Consular Affairs division issued a public advisory. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026

In the past school year, Austin ISD kindergarteners had vaccination rates between 74% and 84%, depending on the immunization, according to Texas Department of State Health Services data. —Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026

But if citizenship verification is not on file with the state, the Department of State would notify the local elections supervisor. —Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

Fox News Digital reached out to the Texas Department of State Health Services and an attorney for the families, but neither immediately responded. —Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for Department of State

• borosilicate
• decontaminate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• incapacitate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate

Legal Definition

Department of State

Agency

federal executive division responsible for carrying out U.S. foreign policy. It is the president's principal means of conducting treaty negotiations and effecting agreements with foreign nations. Under its control are the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, seven bureaus of political affairs, the U.S. Foreign Service (including 270 embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions, and numerous subagencies), and various offices of diplomatic security, foreign intelligence, policy analysis, international narcotics control, protocol, and passport and medical services. The department's legal adviser advises the secretary of state on all matters of international law arising in the conduct of foreign relations.