elder statesman

noun

Synonyms of elder statesmannext
: an eminent senior member of a group or organization
especially : a retired statesman who unofficially advises current leaders

Examples of elder statesman in a Sentence

an elder statesman of baseball coaches the elder statesman of the White House correspondents is finally retiring after nearly a half century of service
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fittingly, the Yankees’ elder statesman has somehow rewound the clock. Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 14 June 2026 As vilification of the Founders and the Revolution became more common, both in academia and in society at large, Wood functioned as part elder statesman and part lightning rod. Craig Bruce Smith, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 The Rangers need another strong campaign from the two elder statesmen on the starting staff. Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026 The franchise’s elder statesmen understand that Jokic is an inextricable aspect of any conversation about Murray’s developing legacy. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elder statesman

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elder statesman was in 1904

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elder statesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elder%20statesman. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

elder statesman

noun
: a respected older member of a group or organization
especially : a retired statesman who gives advice to current leaders
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