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

Internal documents published in the Supreme Court case last week show that DHS had not consulted the Department of State on country conditions before ending them, which would be a violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026

Although these other agencies are not specified, these consultations could involve the Department of State, the National Security Council and the Department of Justice. — Gisela Salomon, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026

As general counsel for the California Department of State Hospitals, Rodriguez managed a budget of more than $10 million and oversaw 55 attorneys. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026

On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the Texas Department of State Health Services conducted its annual inspection of the camp. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 23 June 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.