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power politics

American

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

political action characterized by the exercise or pursuit of power as a means of coercion.
international diplomacy based on the use or threatened use of military or economic power.

power politics British

noun

(functioning as singular) (in international affairs) the threat or use of force as an instrument of national policy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of power politics

First recorded in 1935–40

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.

Can the low-key pontiff from Chicago make a difference in an era of raw power politics?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Opening the annual Munich Security Conference, he said "our freedom is not guaranteed" in an era of big power politics, and Europeans must be ready to make "sacrifice".

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

They’re not privy to the power politics of Manhattan after parties.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

It’s a rare glimpse into bare-knuckle power politics.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2022

Masters of power politics, engineers of genius, the Mexica were also upstarts and pretenders, arrivistes who falsely claimed a brilliant line of descent.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023