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

California state law requires that before the local court considers where the person is placed, the state’s Department of State Hospitals give notice to the county’s sheriff and district attorney. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026

The move was announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of State. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026

Keep a disaster supply kit The Texas Department of State Health Services recommends Texans have a disaster supply kit handy for any type of weather event or natural disaster. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Jan. 2026

The decision, announced via the Department of State, specifically involves immigration visas—not tourist visas—and likely wouldn’t impact most of the millions of foreign fans that are expected to come to North America this summer. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 15 Jan. 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.