elder statesman noun2 •A prominent and respected elderly political leader.Thus Ito, according to some interpreters of modern Japan, practically ceased to rank as an "elder statesman" when he consented to lead the political combination known as the Sei-yu-kai. — 1905 •A prominent and respected person in a specified field who is elderly or who has been in the field for a long time.I would classify him in this field as an elder statesman and a very knowledgeable and brilliant scientist, and useful for consulting purposes, but he is not directly working on Project Vela. — 1962 formselder statesmen
