political

American  

[puh-lit-i-kuhl] / pəˈlɪt ɪ kəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerned with politics.

   political writers.

2. of, relating to, or connected with a political party.

   a political campaign.

3. exercising or seeking power in the governmental or public affairs of a state, municipality, etc..

   a political machine;

   a political boss.

4. of, relating to, or involving the state or its government.

   a political offense.

5. having a definite policy or system of government.

   a political community.

6. of or relating to citizens.

   political rights.

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political British  

/ pəˈlɪtɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the state, government, the body politic, public administration, policy-making, etc

2. 1. of, involved in, or relating to government policy-making as distinguished from administration or law

   2. of or relating to the civil aspects of government as distinguished from the military

3. of, dealing with, or relating to politics

   a political person

4. of, characteristic of, or relating to the parties and the partisan aspects of politics

5. organized or ordered with respect to government

   a political unit

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Other Word Forms

• antipolitical
  adjective
• antipolitically
  adverb
• nonpolitical
  adjective
• nonpolitically
  adverb
• overpolitical
  adjective
• overpolitically
  adverb
• politically
  adverb
• prepolitical
  adjective
• prepolitically
  adverb
• pseudopolitical
  adjective
• quasi-political
  adjective
• quasi-politically
  adverb
• subpolitical
  adjective
• subpolitically
  adverb
• unpolitical
  adjective
• unpolitically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of political

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin polītic(us) “civic” ( see politic) + -al ¹

Explanation

Things that are political have to do with government, elections, and how society is run. Congress, state representatives, even county council members are all part of our political system. The Republicans and Democrats are the two main political parties in America — they support political candidates that run for office. The major things that politicians discuss, like balancing the budget, raising taxes, and immigration laws, are political issues. But if someone gets a promotion just because they're friends with the boss, you'd also say it was totally political. In other words, they got ahead because of their connections rather than their qualifications, just like a lot of politicians.

Example Sentences

"Endless gratitude to the Secret Service for their immediate, heroic response. Political violence has to stop."

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

Political advertising has long been a cash cow for local television stations in an election year, but that source of income may be drying up.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

Streeting set out the policy on the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, in his first in-depth broadcast interview following his resignation as health secretary last week.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

Political uncertainty has come at a bad time for gilts, clashing with elevated global energy prices and renewed inflation concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

At the National Political Training Institute, or Napola, the boys received additional military training, with an emphasis on the spirit, duty, and discipline of the soldier.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti