Meaning & use
elder statesman
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
an older, respected person, especially in politics, whose advice and experience are valued
Grammar: Countable; plural is elder statesmen. Often used with 'a' or 'the'.
Patterns
- a respected elder statesman
- act as an elder statesman
After retiring from the Senate, he became an elder statesman who was consulted on foreign policy.
The party turned to its elder statesmen for guidance during the crisis.
She is seen as an elder statesman of the environmental movement.
Word forms
| plural | elder statesmen |
|---|
Common combinations
- respected elder statesman
- He was a respected elder statesman in the diplomatic community.
- act as an elder statesman
- She now acts as an elder statesman for the company.
- elder statesman of something
- He is an elder statesman of British journalism.
Synonyms and how they differ
- veteran
- A veteran is someone with long experience, but not necessarily respected or retired; elder statesman implies age, wisdom, and respect.
- grand old man
- This is a more affectionate, informal term for a respected older man, often in a particular field.
Commonly confused: elder statesman or elder?
elder statesman vs elder
Elder can mean an older person or a church official; elder statesman is a specific phrase for a respected political figure.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'elder statesman' correctly?
Choose one answer.
An elder statesman is an older, respected figure, often in politics, so the former president fits. Option An is wrong because the intern is young and not respected for experience. Option C is too informal and not typically political. Option D contradicts the meaning of 'elder'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “elder statesman”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.