politician

American  

[pol-i-tish-uhn] / ˌpɒl ɪˈtɪʃ ən /

noun

politicians plural

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.

Synonym Usage

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

Derived Forms

• nonpolitician
  noun
• self-politician
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• politicians
  plural

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

See Examples For:

politician politicians

“He could have made an excellent politician had the guitar not claimed him first,” Mr. Gill recalls, and suddenly it’s as though he’s back at Riverhall, wondering how to get inside.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Vice President JD Vance told the mourners Graham was an affable, gregarious politician who would slap Senate colleagues on the back and had a passion for engaging opponents in "swashbuckling" debate.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

There’s a balance every politician must strike: retaining one’s authenticity while remaining open to recalibrating policy positions in response to new evidence or simply evolving, or to match shifts in the public mood.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

In June, Hilton clinched second place in California’s gubernatorial primary behind veteran Democratic politician Xavier Becerra.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Washington was a voluble politician with an exuberant spirit.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

"I have no doubt whatsoever that the people who espouse theories like those promoted by this individual will continue to disseminate them," Nunez added, referring to some French politicians.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

A permit application to rebuild the Lineage cold-storage warehouse has been met with fierce backlash from politicians as well as residents who are still contending with putrid odors and health concerns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Since the pandemic, scientists and politicians have debated the value of “gain of function” research, in which viruses are made more transmissible or otherwise altered so that scientists can understand how they work.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

He said he had raised that incident when he first became an MSP because he felt the "targeting of politicians you might expect to see in places like Mexico is happening in Scotland".

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Of course, the politicians, dictators, and warmongers weren’t happy, but their voices, which had always seemed so loud and intimidating, were suddenly insignificant.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

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