political
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or concerned with politics.
political writers.
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of, relating to, or connected with a political party.
a political campaign.
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exercising or seeking power in the governmental or public affairs of a state, municipality, etc..
a political machine;
a political boss.
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of, relating to, or involving the state or its government.
a political offense.
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having a definite policy or system of government.
a political community.
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of or relating to citizens.
political rights.
adjective
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of or relating to the state, government, the body politic, public administration, policy-making, etc
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of, involved in, or relating to government policy-making as distinguished from administration or law
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of or relating to the civil aspects of government as distinguished from the military
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of, dealing with, or relating to politics
a political person
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of, characteristic of, or relating to the parties and the partisan aspects of politics
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organized or ordered with respect to government
a political unit
Other Word Forms
- antipolitical adjective
- antipolitically adverb
- nonpolitical adjective
- nonpolitically adverb
- overpolitical adjective
- overpolitically adverb
- politically adverb
- prepolitical adjective
- prepolitically adverb
- pseudopolitical adjective
- quasi-political adjective
- quasi-politically adverb
- subpolitical adjective
- subpolitically adverb
- unpolitical adjective
- unpolitically adverb
Etymology
Origin of political
First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin polītic(us) “civic” ( politic ) + -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chris Lehane, the architect of OpenAI’s political messaging, had often described the approach as getting into “the room where it happens,” an apparent reference to the Broadway show “Hamilton.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Some political parties ahead of May's Senedd election are promising new hospitals as part of their policy offer.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
On Thursday, the British-led virtual meeting of dozens of nations will "assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation" in the strait, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
He has formed a new council trying to bring together all those who agree with him, calling for dialogue and the release of all political prisoners.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Two political groups, the Liberty and Free Soil parties, emerged from this movement.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
