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.

---

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

---

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

None of this is healthy for the body politic, though at least both sides are finally being brutally honest about their raw partisanship.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The body politic of America was so Christian and was so Protestant that our form and structure of government was built for the people that believed in Christ our Lord," Kirk said in 2024.

From BBC

In other words, what our body politic is facing today is not substantively new; it’s only perceptually new to those who’ve never before been subject to the whims of a place like Tallahassee.

From Salon

The Epstein scandal may prove to be the tie that binds — or, to extend the metaphor, the first political bloodletting that has universal appeal since Nixon was expelled from the body politic.

From Salon

We are affirmed in the knowledge that we are the body politic.

From Los Angeles Times