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

Currently, the Texas Rangers and the Department of State Health Services' investigations into the events at the camp are ongoing. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

According to the Department of State, the passport must be valid for at least three months beyond departure, with a blank page available for each stamp. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026

Rivas also said that by the time López filed a federal trademark application on June 25, her group had already registered its name with the Florida Department of State. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

The Michigan Department of State says approximately 8,200 cards were misprinted after an error by its vendor, Idemia. — Terrance Friday, CBS News, 8 Sep. 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.