political
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or concerned with politics.
political writers.
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of, relating to, or connected with a political party.
a political campaign.
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exercising or seeking power in the governmental or public affairs of a state, municipality, etc..
a political machine;
a political boss.
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of, relating to, or involving the state or its government.
a political offense.
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having a definite policy or system of government.
a political community.
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of or relating to citizens.
political rights.
adjective
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of or relating to the state, government, the body politic, public administration, policy-making, etc
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of, involved in, or relating to government policy-making as distinguished from administration or law
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of or relating to the civil aspects of government as distinguished from the military
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of, dealing with, or relating to politics
a political person
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of, characteristic of, or relating to the parties and the partisan aspects of politics
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organized or ordered with respect to government
a political unit
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” ( politic ) + -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It has also damaged the political brands of several top administration officials.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
Kavanagh’s daily wrap-up developed an audience among political insiders — lawmakers, lobbyists, legislative staffers — and then a following that grew to include other reporters and, eventually, readers throughout California and beyond.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
He saw it as a credible alternative to the established parties, one that had a wide organisational network across the country and many new faces in its political roster.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
In the state of Sinaloa, advocates for missing persons have long alleged that there are ties between the political class and organized crime.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
In both instances his posture of public probity—slavery should be ended and political parties were evil agents that corrupted republican values—was at odds with his personal behavior and political interest.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
