political

American  

[puh-lit-i-kuhl] / pəˈlɪt ɪ kəl /

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.

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political British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• antipolitical
  adjective
• nonpolitical
  adjective
• overpolitical
  adjective
• prepolitical
  adjective
• pseudopolitical
  adjective
• quasi-political
  adjective
• subpolitical
  adjective
• unpolitical
  adjective
• antipolitically
  adverb
• nonpolitically
  adverb
• overpolitically
  adverb
• politically
  adverb
• prepolitically
  adverb
• quasi-politically
  adverb
• subpolitically
  adverb
• unpolitically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of political

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

Explanation

Things that are political have to do with government, elections, and how society is run. Congress, state representatives, even county council members are all part of our political system. The Republicans and Democrats are the two main political parties in America — they support political candidates that run for office. The major things that politicians discuss, like balancing the budget, raising taxes, and immigration laws, are political issues. But if someone gets a promotion just because they're friends with the boss, you'd also say it was totally political. In other words, they got ahead because of their connections rather than their qualifications, just like a lot of politicians.

Example Sentences

Widdecombe's political career spanned decades, serving as MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years, before going on to join Reform UK.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026

The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which currently sits in Cairo, said it was ready to govern the territory once the political and security landscape allows.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026

The actor and political activist set up the Reclaim Party in 2020.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026

To critics, a return to local control is long overdue — and some have tried to apply legal and political pressure.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026

She was beginning to form her own political views, which she often wrote about in her diary and letters.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti