political

[ puh-lit-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerned with politics:

   political writers.

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

   a political campaign.

3. exercising or seeking power in the governmental or public affairs of a state, municipality, etc.:

   a political machine;

   a political boss.

4. of, relating to, or involving the state or its government:

   a political offense.

5. having a definite policy or system of government:

   a political community.

6. of or relating to citizens:

   political rights.

political

/ pəˈlɪtɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the state, government, the body politic, public administration, policy-making, etc
2. 1. of, involved in, or relating to government policy-making as distinguished from administration or law
   2. of or relating to the civil aspects of government as distinguished from the military
3. of, dealing with, or relating to politics

   a political person

4. of, characteristic of, or relating to the parties and the partisan aspects of politics
5. organized or ordered with respect to government

   a political unit

Derived Forms

• poˈlitically, adverb

Other Words From

• po·liti·cal·ly adverb
• anti·po·liti·cal adjective
• anti·po·liti·cal·ly adverb
• nonpo·liti·cal adjective
• nonpo·liti·cal·ly adverb
• over·po·liti·cal adjective
• over·po·liti·cal·ly adverb
• prepo·liti·cal adjective
• prepo·liti·cal·ly adverb
• pseudo·po·liti·cal adjective
• quasi-po·liti·cal adjective
• quasi-po·liti·cal·ly adverb
• subpo·liti·cal adjective
• subpo·liti·cal·ly adverb
• unpo·liti·cal adjective
• unpo·liti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of political¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin polītic(us) “civic” ( politic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

There regularly were suggestions from Pence’s top political advisers for his coronavirus remarks “that I could just not support, and it became harder and harder to push back,” Troye said.

From Washington Post

Especially because “socialism” — as opposed to “social” — has plainly become a political term.

From Freakonomics

Republicans have unleashed an onslaught of GOP attacks branding Democrats as socialists, and that appears to have had some effect despite Biden’s longtime political identity as a centrist.

From Washington Post

Facebook’s Political Ad Ban Also Threatens Ability to Spread Accurate Information on How to VoteTwo months out from Election Day, Facebook’s changes to its political ad rules cause additional problems for the government officials running the vote.

From ProPublica

Facebook recently introduced a new policy directed at handling false claims of victory from candidates and political campaigns.

From Fortune

Submission is less a novel of ideas than a political book, and of the most subversive kind.

From The Daily Beast

But since those rosy scenarios were first floated, the California political scene has grown more crowded.

From The Daily Beast

But on Thursday Boxer triggered a Golden State political earthquake, announcing that she would not seek a fifth term in 2016.

From The Daily Beast

Newsom will likely be out if Harris runs since the two are considered allies, California political insiders said.

From The Daily Beast

Weeks retained an unparalleled legal team, which included bitter political rivals Hamilton and Burr.

From The Daily Beast

For several months he remained under a political cloud, charged with incompetency to quell the Philippine Rebellion.

From Project Gutenberg

To give him a party name, he became an anti-clerical, strictly in a political and lawful sense.

From Project Gutenberg

She is immensely rich, one of the ablest political women in London, and Jack is desperately in love with her.

From Project Gutenberg

Proof was given to him, of Elizabeth having admitted Ripperda to private political discussions in the Altheim apartments.

From Project Gutenberg

The foster-child remained behind to share the hut of the political exile.

From Project Gutenberg