STATESPERSON

noun (Politics) A statesman or stateswoman. (Invented as a generic term to avoid sexism.) Etymology: Formed by substituting the non-sexist -person for -man or -woman. History and Usage: The term was invented by the media in the second half of the seventies, and at first was in practice more or less limited to references to stateswomen: Indira Gandhi and, a little later, Margaret Thatcher were the people most often referred to as statespersons. By the end of the eighties, though, it was starting to be used of statesmen as well. Contributors to the diary's current competition (see below) may like to know that somebody wants Our Greatest Statesperson to have some free history lessons. Namely, Mike Harris, a Labour member of Barnet council, embracing Mrs Thatcher's seat (Finchley, that is, I rush to point out). Guardian 10 Aug. 1989, p. 19 Genscher has become Europe's senior statesperson. New Yorker 23 Oct. 1989, p. 104