elder statesman

noun

: 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.
Kennard and third-year player Tuli Tuipulotu give the Chargers future options at the position with elder statesmen Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree approaching the twilight of their careers. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025 At Chapter One, Lira, with more than a decade on the job, has become the restaurant’s elder statesman. Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025 Then there is the upstart turned elder statesman of the group, A24. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025 By the mid-2010s, Combs was fully reveling in his role as an elder statesman of rap. Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 12 May 2025 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 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

elder statesman

noun
: a respected older member of a group or organization
especially : a retired statesman who gives advice to current leaders
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!