statesmanship

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   skill, wisdom, and sound judgment in managing public affairs

   Her patient diplomacy was widely praised as an act of statesmanship.

Formed from statesman + -ship. Statesman combines state, in the political sense, with man; -ship forms nouns denoting a condition, office, or skill. The word therefore developed the sense of the qualities and judgment expected of an able political leader.

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