pol

Pol 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, pol 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).

Pol 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 politico can be used to mean the same thing.

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

The first records of the word pol in reference to a politician come from the early 1900s. It’s a shortening of politician, which 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 pol can be used to mean the same thing. It’s especially used to refer to politicians who are considered insiders in the political world.

What are some other forms related to politico?

• pols (plural)

What are some synonyms for politico?

• politico
• 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

Pol is usually used informally. It can be used in a negative way to criticize career politicians.

In bid for U.S. Senate seat, @FLGovScott says he wants to get rid of "career politicians" like #Florida's @SenBillNelson. So why are so many career pols campaigning for Scott? He doesn't want to talk about it. https://t.co/WPJQ9tmVLa via @scontorno

— Craig Pittman (@craigtimes) April 17, 2018

Unbelievable. ECOT’s criminal enterprise continues to shock the conscience. Let’s remember that this scam was made possible by greedy pols who gladly compromised public education for campaign $. Those who took the cash should be held responsible. https://t.co/WEhxyCe8FP

— Zack Space (@ZackSpaceOhio) May 1, 2018

A very tough column that asks if pols and pundits who jumped on attack story had the effect of causing CPD to pile resources onto case that may be a hoax instead of real crimes that truly harmed people. Maybe it isn’t always necessary to have an opinion. https://t.co/MLj9K4I2Q8

— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) February 22, 2019

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

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