Dictionary

politic en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɒl.ə.tɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈpɑ.lɪ.tɪk/ (General-American, dialectal) of Canada
• /ˈpɒl.ə.tək/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈpɒl.ɪ.tɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈpɒl.ə.tɪk/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
• [ˈpɔ̟l.ə.tək] (New-Zealand)
• /ˈpɔl.ə.tɪk/ (Australia)
• /ˈpɒl.ɪ.tɪk/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
• /ˈpɑ.lə.tɪk/ (General-American, dialectal) of Canada

Etymology

From Middle French politique, from Latin polīticus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós), from πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”). Cognate with German politisch (“political”). Doublet of politico.

Meanings

1. (archaic) Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.
   • [H]e with his people made all but one politic body whereof himself was the head a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
   • the body politic
2. (archaic, of things) Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong.
   • For then this land was famously enrich'd / With politic grave counsel c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
   • a politic treaty
3. (archaic) Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious
   • I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:
4. Shrewd, prudent and expedient; showing policy.
   • What a politician likes to do for fun (or judges it politic to pretend he does) is seen as a clue to their personality, or even their politics. 2010 April 20, Mark Lawson, “Politicians' pop-culture love-in”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 02 May 2024:
   • But campaigners in Florida accused him of turning a blind eye to the real issues with his "politic" appearance before the commission. 2001 January 12, Jane Martinson, “Jeb Bush grilled on voting irregularities”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 17 Jul 2017:
   • But as he headed for the front of the line one of his minders whispered that it might be politic to go to the back. 1999 February 28, Chris McGreal, “Nigerians give two cheers for flawed election”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 02 May 2024:
5. Discreet and diplomatic.
   • Deferential, glad to be of use, / Politic, cautious, and meticulous; […] 1915 June, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egoist […], published 1917, →OCLC, page 15:
   • A unanimous exclamation called upon Evelyn himself to speak; and, after a minute's politic pause, he went on to state his plan. 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter IV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 25:
6. Artful, crafty or cunning.

Forms

Antonyms

impolitic

Deriveds

politicness · superpolitic · politicese · politicly · politicker · politicspeak · politicist · politicism · unpolitic

Relateds

polity · police · body politic · policy · political · politics · politician · politicize

politic en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɒl.ə.tɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈpɑ.lɪ.tɪk/ (General-American, dialectal) of Canada
• /ˈpɒl.ə.tək/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈpɒl.ɪ.tɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈpɒl.ə.tɪk/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
• [ˈpɔ̟l.ə.tək] (New-Zealand)
• /ˈpɔl.ə.tɪk/ (Australia)
• /ˈpɒl.ɪ.tɪk/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
• /ˈpɑ.lə.tɪk/ (General-American, dialectal) of Canada

Etymology

From Middle French politique, from Latin polīticus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós), from πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”). Cognate with German politisch (“political”). Doublet of politico.

Meanings

1. (archaic) A politician.
   • to speake truly of politikes & Statesmen 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
   • Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; / Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars. 1848, James Russell Lowell, The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell, Epigrams, 3:
   • And therefore our politic Asclepius may be supposed to have exhibited the power of his art only to persons who... had a definite ailment. 1871, Benjamin Jowett, chapter III, in Plato: The Republic:
2. A politics; a set of political beliefs.
   • While the stories and lives on the screen are alternately moving and funny, an unspoken question arises: does similar experience always lead to a coherent politic? 1978 April 29, Michael Bronski, “Notes on a Necessary Gay Film”, in Gay Community News, page 11:

Forms

politic en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɒl.ə.tɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈpɑ.lɪ.tɪk/ (General-American, dialectal) of Canada
• /ˈpɒl.ə.tək/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈpɒl.ɪ.tɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈpɒl.ə.tɪk/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
• [ˈpɔ̟l.ə.tək] (New-Zealand)
• /ˈpɔl.ə.tɪk/ (Australia)
• /ˈpɒl.ɪ.tɪk/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
• /ˈpɑ.lə.tɪk/ (General-American, dialectal) of Canada

Etymology

Back-formation from politicking.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative spelling of politick.
   alt of politick
   • That why you turned the Kanuyaq Land Trust into the IRS for using donations to politic instead of to buy land? 2002, Dana Stabenow, A Fine and Bitter Snow, →ISBN, page 206:
   • He made errors, and they should have reversed him, but he politicked the thing through. 2017, John Hayman, Bitter Harvest: Richmond Flowers and the Civil Rights Revolution, →ISBN:
   • Residents of New York, Illinois and now New Hampshire have watched as their governors waffled, politicked and, in the case of Illinois, possibly broke the law carrying out their duties to appoint a new senator. 2009 February 4, “How to Fill a Senate Seat”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022:
   • His brother [Anthony], he politicked him so well, that even his [Jason's] attitude, all the scouts got away from [forgot about] his [bad] attitude because he was a good player. 2009, Scott N. Brooks, Black Men Can't Shoot, →ISBN, page 169:

Forms