noun · formal

statesmanship

UK/ˈsteɪtmənʃɪp/US/ˈsteɪtmənˌʃɪp/STATE·sman·ship

Band 6-7task2speaking

the skill, wisdom, and qualities expected of a statesman; wise and principled political leadership

Examples

Many praised her statesmanship during the economic crisis.

Statesmanship requires putting national interest above short-term popularity.

In Task 2 essays about leadership, you can contrast leadership with statesmanship to make a finer point.

Band 8 sentence

Voters often value statesmanship—leaders who can build consensus and plan beyond the next election cycle.

Collocations

  • display statesmanship
  • political statesmanship

Word family

statesman nounstatesmanship nounstatesmanlike adjective

Common mistakes

His leadership was praised for putting the country first.His statesmanship was praised for putting the country first.

Say it for a higher band

5leadership6political skill7+statesmanship

Synonyms

leadership

Easily confused

leadership

Her leadership of the company transformed its culture.

Related words

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In -ship

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