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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
Last season, with elder statesmen like Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander no longer in the clubhouse, Lindor and Brandon Nimmo took the reins as veteran leaders.
—
Tim Britton, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Comedian and host Conan O’Brien was named the newest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy on Thursday.
O’Brien, 61, has carved out an improbable decades-long career arc, moving from goofy television interloper to comedic elder statesman.
—
Ashraf Khalil, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Though none of the three elder statesmen is capable of capturing his Cy Young form, all three are certain to land jobs as back-of-the-rotation starters.
—
Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Compared with these selections, Ratcliffe looks like an elder statesman, and he has essentially been anointed: The Senate will almost certainly confirm him, which will make Ratcliffe the only person ever to have served as both the DNI and the director of the CIA.
—
Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1904, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near elder statesman
Cite this Entry
“Elder statesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elder%20statesman. Accessed 22 Feb. 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
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