Skilled, experienced, and wise political leaders who put the public good above personal interests.
From state (political body) + man (person), combining around 1600 in English. Evolved from simple 'men of state' to imply moral virtue and diplomatic skill.
The term 'statesman' became loaded with idealism in the 18th century Enlightenment, when philosophers like Montesquieu and Rousseau redefined what made a leader worthy—honesty and reason rather than mere power.
The male suffix '-men' has historically excluded women from political leadership discourse; women were legally barred from governance and the term itself encoded that exclusion.
Use 'statesperson', 'politician', 'leader', or 'diplomat' instead of 'statesman/statesmen'; these terms include all genders and center the role rather than gender.
["statesperson","stateswoman (when relevant)","politician","diplomat","political leader"]
Women have fought for and now hold high office globally; update language to reflect their equal standing and erase the gendered erasure of the '-men' suffix.
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