politician

American  

[pol-i-tish-uhn] / ˌpɒl ɪˈtɪʃ ən /

noun

1. a person who is active in party politics.

2. a seeker or holder of public office, who is more concerned about winning favor or retaining power than about maintaining principles.

3. a person who holds a political office.

4. a person skilled in political government or administration; statesman or stateswoman.

5. an expert in politics or political government.

6. a person who seeks to gain power or advancement within an organization in ways that are generally disapproved.

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politician British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈtɪʃən /

noun

1. a person actively engaged in politics, esp a full-time professional member of a deliberative assembly

2. a person who is experienced or skilled in the art or science of politics, government, or administration; statesman

3. derogatory a person who engages in politics out of a wish for personal gain, as realized by holding a public office

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Usage

What does politician mean? A politician is a person who holds or is seeking political office as an elected government official. The word is most commonly used in the context of politicians campaigning, giving speeches, and promoting themselves, as opposed to the activities that they do as part of being a government official—voting, debating issues, and working to find solutions to problems (in which case a politician might be called a representative or officeholder—or a legislator or lawmaker, if they work in a lawmaking capacity). The word politician is often used in a negative way. That’s because being a politician is often associated with attempting to be likeable to the largest possible group of people (voters) in order to get elected and gain influence—and perhaps doing so for one’s own benefit, instead of the public. Politicians are often affiliated with political parties and associated with party politics, which involve the strict adherence to the policies and principles of a political party, regardless of the public interest, often resulting in partisanship. The word politician is also commonly used in a figurative way to refer to a person who’s particularly skilled at navigating the politics—the activities involving gaining and maintaining power and influence—of a certain situation, such as the workplace. Calling someone a politician in this way usually implies that they are good at building support, especially with the goal of helping them to further some agenda or boost or maintain their power in that setting. However, it also usually implies that such a person is at least somewhat dishonest or fake (like many real politicians are often accused of being). The word is often applied in this way to someone who tells people what they want to hear in order to gain power or influence. When someone says that an elected official is “not a politician” (even though they obviously are in the literal sense), they usually mean that that person is exactly as they seem—they’re not presenting an artificial public persona. Example: We need to demand more substance from our politicians, who should be focusing on the real issues instead of scoring political points with their supporters.

Related Words

Politician, statesman refer to one skilled in politics. These terms differ particularly in their connotations; politician is more often derogatory, and statesman laudatory. Politician suggests the schemes and devices of a person who engages in (especially small) politics for party ends or for one's own advantage: a dishonest politician. Statesman suggests the eminent ability, foresight, and unselfish patriotic devotion of a person dealing with (especially important or great) affairs of state: a distinguished statesman.

Other Word Forms

• nonpolitician noun
• self-politician noun

Etymology

Origin of politician

From the French word politicien, dating back to 1580–90. See politic, -ian

Explanation

A politician is a person who campaigns for or holds a position in government. A politician may start a career by running for a local office, like mayor, but could eventually serve nationally — in Congress or even as President. Politician can mean someone who identifies with a major political party. Sometimes voters prefer to elect candidates who aren't career politicians, with more allegiance to the party they represent than the people they serve. A general frustration with politicians has resulted in the use of politician to refer to people who act to gain an advantage for themselves. The office politician may lobby the boss to get preferential treatment, for example.

Example Sentences

The politician in question is former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who wrote an op-ed in The Times of London titled “To save the West, remember what Romans taught us.”

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

The politician started his meteoric rise demanding the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Communist Hungary in 1989 with the call “Russians Go Home!”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Never before has the relationship between Washington and the Vatican revolved around two Americans — specifically, a 79-year-old politician from Queens and a 70-year-old pontiff from Chicago.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

DUP leader Gavin Robinson paid tribute to the Foyle politician, saying he had been a "dedicated and steadfast servant to people across the city of Londonderry and surrounding areas".

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Yitzchak became a politician, a member of the Israeli senate, the Knesset.

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen

Related Words

• congressperson
• lawmaker
• leader
• legislator
• member of Congress
• officeholder
• president
• representative
• senator