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Glite Dictionary
Department of State

Department of State

14 3.4
A United States government department that handles relations with other countries
  • proper noun
  • /dɪˈpɑrtmənt əv steɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : Departamento de Estado
  • After over a year of study, the Department of State announced several adjustments in policy.
  • U.S. Department of State
  • US Department of State
  • United States Department of State

Examples

  • The STUDENTS ABROAD website from the U.S. Department of State provides essential information for smart travelers.

    Academic text (2015)

  • A current U.S. Department of State study also credits China with "impressive economic growth."

    Academic text (1993)

  • And no, he could not explain how any copy had turned up at the US Department of State.

    Academic text (2013)

  • I will not bother to go through this entire Department of State report here.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State.

    Academic text (2011)

  • At a luncheon at the Department of State, I was the principal speaker.

    Academic text (1993)

  • And all of the U.S. Department of State cables- we have intelligence that they are about to be put on the web unredacted, not by us, and I would like to speak to her about this.

    Razors: The Return of Jack the Ripper (2016)

  • However, new regulations were promulgated by the INS, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of Labor.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The appropriations principally went to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (State), and USAID.

    Academic text (2017)

  • After over a year of study, the Department of State announced several adjustments in policy.

Synonyms

State Department
vsDepartment of State
  • Formal
419 3.4

The United States government office that decides and manages relations with other countries

is the formal official title rather than a casual label
DoS
vsDepartment of State
  • Formal
3 5.1

A U.S. government department that deals with other countries

is the full written title instead of the short abbreviated form
United States Department of State
vsDepartment of State
  • Formal
1 4.3

A US government department that handles relations with other countries

is the common shorter title used in ordinary contexts

Surface Forms

Department of State main

Morphology

department + of + state

The meaning is partly derivable: a B1 learner who knows 'department' (an organizational unit) and 'state' (a nation) can infer this refers to a government department belonging to the state. However, the specific role — that it is the U.S. body responsible for foreign policy and international relations — is a conventional, country-specific name (capitalization and institutional usage) that is not fully predictable from the constituents, so full understanding requires prior exposure.

Etymology

Department of State was named as the department (a team or office) that deals with other states, where 'states' here means 'countries'. So, Department of State now means the U.S. government office that handles talks and relations with other countries and sends diplomats abroad.