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

There were 4,120 cases of whooping cough in 2025, according to provisional data from the Department of State Health Services. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026

America is forming new critical mineral and technology coalitions, most recently Pax Silica, the Department of State’s flagship effort on AI and supply chain security. —Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026

The Michigan Department of State has suspended a driver education business in Flint, with no classes or instruction allowed until further notice. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026

In Texas, more than 22,000 women were expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 10 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.