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 Texas Poison Center Network has seen a spike in calls about kratom or other products containing 7-OH, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025

The Department of State advised applicants to review embassy and consulate websites for more information on visa requirements, procedures, operating status, and available services. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025

One person from the Texas Department of State Health Services said to me that this is a vast underestimate for what’s really happening. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025

More than 94% of cases were in unvaccinated people, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025

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.