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

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, products that don’t comply with the new rules may be detained during routine inspections and referred to law enforcement. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026

The Tates were arrested in Miami over the weekend as British authorities seek to extradite them on new charges, though extradition is subject to approval by the Department of State. — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

The voter registration information is transmitted to the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Elections, which is ultimately responsible for verifying eligibility to vote. — Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 21 July 2026

The amendment, considered on the floor as part of the annual National Security, Department of State, and related programs appropriations bill, saw 103 Democrats vote yes. — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 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.