Department of State

noun phrase

: the part of the U.S. government that is responsible for how the U.S. deals with other countries

Examples of Department of State in a Sentence

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The Pennsylvania Department of State shared more about the process. — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 Before teaching at Stanford, Weiner practiced international law in the US Department of State for more than a decade. — Kylie Jones, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026 The California Department of State Hospitals contracts with Liberty Healthcare to supervise people convicted of specific crimes and who also struggle with significant mental health conditions. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 These include psychologists, rehab therapists, social workers, prison chaplains and others, many of whom are employed by CDCR or the Department of State Hospitals. — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Department of State

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Department of State
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“Department of State.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Department%20of%20State. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

Department of State

Agency
federal executive division responsible for carrying out U.S. foreign policy. It is the president's principal means of conducting treaty negotiations and effecting agreements with foreign nations. Under its control are the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, seven bureaus of political affairs, the U.S. Foreign Service (including 270 embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions, and numerous subagencies), and various offices of diplomatic security, foreign intelligence, policy analysis, international narcotics control, protocol, and passport and medical services. The department's legal adviser advises the secretary of state on all matters of international law arising in the conduct of foreign relations.
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