political

[ puh-lit-i-kuh l ]

/ pəˈlɪt ɪ kəl /

adjective

of, relating to, or concerned with politics: political writers.

of, relating to, or connected with a political party: a political campaign.

exercising or seeking power in the governmental or public affairs of a state, municipality, etc.: a political machine; a political boss.

of, relating to, or involving the state or its government: a political offense.

having a definite policy or system of government: a political community.

of or relating to citizens: political rights.

Nearby words

polite, politely, politesse, politian, politic, political, political action committee, political action committees, political asylum, political correctness, political economy

Origin of political

1545–55; < Latin polītic(us) civic (see politic) + -al¹

Related forms

po·lit·i·cal·ly, adverban·ti·po·lit·i·cal, adjectivean·ti·po·lit·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·po·lit·i·cal, adjective

non·po·lit·i·cal·ly, adverbo·ver·po·lit·i·cal, adjectiveo·ver·po·lit·i·cal·ly, adverbpre·po·lit·i·cal, adjectivepre·po·lit·i·cal·ly, adverbpseu·do·po·lit·i·cal, adjectivequa·si-po·lit·i·cal, adjectivequa·si-po·lit·i·cal·ly, adverbsub·po·lit·i·cal, adjectivesub·po·lit·i·cal·ly, adverbun·po·lit·i·cal, adjectiveun·po·lit·i·cal·ly, adverb

Can be confusedpolitic politicalpolitically politicly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nonpolitical

I reiterate here, however, my great hope that this was a nonpolitical loner.
Some Useful Terrorism Facts and Figures|Michael Tomasky|April 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The clothes offer the most human, nonpolitical glimpse of the first lady.
Michelle Obama's Uncensored Fashion Choices|Robin Givhan|April 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
No financial aid should be so welcome as ours, because it is nonpolitical.
The War After the War|Isaac Frederick Marcosson
Suneep nodded slowly, with a cautious expression, a nonpolitical animal being drawn into a political discussion.
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom|Cory Doctorow

Few officials were not scholars; few scholars pursued a nonpolitical course.
Government in Republican China|Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger
At first these ideas were of a nonpolitical character and extremely abstract.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VI (of VIII)|Various
The Chinese lived primarily under the dominance of nonpolitical agencies.
Government in Republican China|Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger

British Dictionary definitions for nonpolitical (1 of 2)

nonpolitical

/ (ˌnɒnpəˈlɪtɪkəl) /

adjective

not of, dealing with, or relating to politicsa nonpolitical organization

British Dictionary definitions for nonpolitical (2 of 2)

political

/ (pəˈlɪtɪkəl) /

adjective

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

of, involved in, or relating to government policy-making as distinguished from administration or law
of or relating to the civil aspects of government as distinguished from the military

of, dealing with, or relating to politicsa political person

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

organized or ordered with respect to governmenta political unit

Derived Formspolitically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nonpolitical

political

adj.

1550s, "pertaining to a polity, civil affairs, or government;" from Latin politicus "of citizens or the state" (see politic (adj.)) + -al (1). Meaning "taking sides in party politics" (usually pejorative) is from 1749. Political prisoner first recorded 1860; political science is from 1779 (first attested in Hume). Political animal translates Greek politikon zoon (Aristotle, "Politics," I.ii.9) "an animal intended to live in a city; a social animal."