statesman

/ˈsteɪtsmən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsteɪtsmən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstāts-mən/ (ame, mw)

statesman — noun

  • statesmansingular
  • statesmenplural

1. an experienced political leader who makes wise choices and acts for the long-ter

1.名詞B2
釋義

an experienced political leader who makes wise choices and acts for the long-term well-being of a country or society, earning widespread respect as a result

例句

Kwame Osei is widely regarded as a wise statesman who guided his country through a difficult period of change.

noun + regarded as + adjective + statesman

Ingrid Lindström acted like a true statesman by putting the country's long-term needs before her party's short-term interests.

act like a true statesman — idiomatic pattern showing behaviour

同義詞
  • politician

    a neutral or broader term for anyone working in politics; statesman carries a strong positive connotation of wisdom and integrity that politician does not guarantee

  • leader

    more general — can refer to any group or organisation; statesman is specific to national or international political leadership

  • elder

    as in elder statesman — emphasises age, experience, and continued advisory influence rather than active power

反義詞
  • demagogue

    a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular prejudices rather than making wise, fair-minded judgments

文法句型

often used with adjectives: great/elder/wise/veteran statesman

用法筆記

Frequently modified by adjectives such as elder, great, veteran, or wise. The word historically referred only to men, but in modern usage it is applied to political leaders of any gender — the corresponding feminine form stateswoman and gender-neutral statesperson also exist but are less common. Nouns modified by elder statesman are often treated as a fixed phrase referring to a senior figure who no longer holds power yet remains influential.

常見錯誤

He is a famous statesman of that small island.
He is a respected statesman from that small island.
💡'famous' only notes notoriety; 'statesman' requires the notion of respect and wise judgment, so 'respected' is the more precise modifier.