politic

American  

[pol-i-tik] / ˈpɒl ɪ tɪk /

adjective

1. shrewd or prudent in practical matters; tactful; diplomatic.

   Synonyms:

   discreet, wary, astute

   Antonyms:

   tactless, indiscreet, imprudent

2. contrived in a shrewd and practical way; expedient.

   a politic reply.

3. political.

   the body politic.

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politic British  

/ ˈpɒlɪtɪk /

adjective

1. artful or shrewd; ingenious

   a politic manager

2. crafty or unscrupulous; cunning

   a politic old scoundrel

3. sagacious, wise, or prudent, esp in statesmanship

   a politic choice

4. an archaic word for political

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Related Words

See diplomatic.

Other Word Forms

• overpolitic adjective
• politicly adverb
• prepolitic adjective
• pseudopolitic adjective
• quasi-politic adjective

Etymology

Origin of politic

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English politik, from Middle French politique, from Latin polīticus, from Greek polītikós “civic,” from polī́t(ēs) “citizen” ( polity ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

“I wonder what this could have been with a real politic, with the people who make culture a part of it instead of using us to cosign this,” she mused.

From Los Angeles Times

America's democracy problem is now in the bones of the body politic.

From Salon

The only hope, the only cure to this infection of the body politic, is the preservation of the right to vote for all — and the concerted effort to dislodge the dissemblers from power.

From Washington Post

It's not a political movie — I mean, it is — but it is not being done for that reason; it is political in the Greek sense of "politic," that we make our society.

From Salon

There are notions of contamination, and that the body politic will be destroyed if they don't take extreme action.

From Salon