politico

¹

[ puh-lit-i-koh ]

noun

, plural po·lit·i·cos.

1. a politician.

politico-

²

1. a combining form representing political in compound words:

   politico-religious.

politico-

¹

combining_form

1. denoting political or politics

   politicoeconomic

politico

²

/ pəˈlɪtɪˌkəʊ /

noun

1. See politician
   an informal word for a politician politician

Word History and Origins

Origin of politico¹

1620–30; < Italian or Spanish

Word History and Origins

Origin of politico¹

C17: from Italian or Spanish

Example Sentences

Worse, his compassionate idealism was seen by seasoned politicos as too good to be true, and some suggested that his inspirational rhetoric was ultimately just a disguise designed to conceal a lack of substantive policy ideas.

From Washington Blade

He recalled the shock of local politicos in 1999, when the San Diego County Water Authority imposed a PLA, which they thought were limited to the Bay Area.

From Voice of San Diego

Those possibilities include becoming a political contributor to ABC News, hosting a podcast featuring longform interviews with celebrities and politicos, and even working in the family business of politics.

From The Daily Beast

There’s a strong possibility that America’s had it with celebrity politicos.

From Ozy

As of this writing, it’s looking like technocrats and major politicos will form the cabinet, but the most critical ministries are likely to go to technocrats—finance, foreign affairs, justice and interior.

From Time

Politico has reported that some Republican donors see Scalise as damaged goods.

From The Daily Beast

Last week, a Politico reporter phoned me to ascertain my thoughts on the new war.

From The Daily Beast

In her memoir, the Texas politico reveals she had two abortions for medical reasons.

From The Daily Beast

Politico reported over the weekend that Sharpton is the de facto liaison for the White House regarding the shooting in Ferguson.

From The Daily Beast

He quoted from a Politico article noting that Democrats are talking impeachment up while Republicans are denying it.

From The Daily Beast

The happy and comfortable constitution of the politico-social position must not be sought among the Greeks .

From Project Gutenberg

He was a great speaker in a debating society, a member of some politico-economical club.

From Project Gutenberg

It is clearly a recognition of the fact that the supreme politico-social institution of the time depended upon hand labor.

From Project Gutenberg

We may sum up the politico-military life of Santa Anna by saying that he has been engaged in eight pronunciamientos.

From Project Gutenberg

He also wrote a bitter satire upon the Spanish misrule in Italy, entitled Pietra del paragone politico .

From Project Gutenberg

More About Politico

What does politico mean?

Politico is an informal word for a politician—a person who holds or is seeking political office as an elected government official.

Like the word politician, politico is most commonly used in the context of politicians campaigning, giving speeches, and promoting themselves, as opposed to the activities that they do as part of being a government official—voting, debating issues, and working to find solutions to problems (in which case a politician might be called a representative or officeholder—or a legislator or lawmaker, if they work in a lawmaking capacity).

Politico is especially used to refer to a long-term politician who’s experienced in making political deals or exchanging political favors.

For that reason, it’s often used in a negative way, such as to refer to politicians who are considered members of the establishment.

The informal term pol can be used to mean the same thing.

Example: We should be focusing on real issues instead of listening to endless rhetoric from politicos and pundits.

Where does politico come from?

Politico might sound like a modern slang term, but the first records of its use in English come from around 1630. It’s thought to have been borrowed from Spanish or Italian, but it has the same roots as its synonym, politician. It ultimately derives from the Greek polītikós, which means “civil” and is related to the Greek polī́t(ēs), “citizen.”

The term career politician refers to a representative who has spent a long time as an elected official and usually implies that they haven’t accomplished much other than continuing to get elected. The word politico can be used to mean the same thing. It’s especially used to refer to politicians who are considered insiders in the political world.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to politico?

• politicos (plural)

What are some synonyms for politico?

• pol
• politician
• elected official
• representative
• officeholder

What are some words that share a root or word element with politico? 

• politic
• politics
• political

What are some words that often get used in discussing politico?

• lawmaker
• legislator
• partisan
• greedy
• corrupt
• establishment
• pundit

How is politico used in real life?

Politico is usually used informally. It’s often used negatively to criticize career politicians.

Normal, everyday Americans are far less ideological than politicos and pundits.

Just something to consider for no reason in particular at all.

— Matt Rogers 🗳 (@Politidope) March 2, 2020

Election? What election? Why the @Nationals are the hot story for DC politicos and pundits: http://t.co/lvpsardT @mikeallen @MarkZuckerman

— Patrick Hruby (@patrick_hruby) September 26, 2012

Complaints about politicians getting squishy with the truth (or just outright lying) are frequent. Many decisions career politicos make look bad in hindsight.

With Bernie, neither of those was true. Yet, it wasn't enough. @ebruenig from the NYT column: https://t.co/csmiJTKHYE

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) April 11, 2020

 

Try using politico!

Which of the following words can be used as a synonym of politico?

A. pol
B. politician
C. officeholder
D. all of the above