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realpolitik
or Re·al·po·li·tik
[ rey-ahl-poh-li-teek, ree- ]
/ reɪˈɑlˌpoʊ lɪˌtik, ri- /
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noun
political realism or practical politics, especially policy based on power rather than on ideals.
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Origin of realpolitik
OTHER WORDS FROM realpolitik
re·al·po·li·tik·er [rey-ahl-poh-lee-ti-ker, ree-], /reɪˈɑl poʊˌli tɪ kər, ri-/, nounWords nearby realpolitik
really, realm, real money trade, real number, real part, realpolitik, real presence, real property, real storage, real tennis, real time
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use realpolitik in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for realpolitik
realpolitik
/ (reɪˈɑːlpɒlɪˈtiːk) /
noun
a ruthlessly realistic and opportunist approach to statesmanship, rather than a moralistic one, esp as exemplified by Bismarck
Word Origin for realpolitik
C19: German: politics of realism
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
Cultural definitions for realpolitik
realpolitik
[ (ray-ahl-poh-li-teek) ]
Governmental policies based on hard, practical considerations rather than on moral or idealistic concerns. Realpolitik is German for “the politics of reality” and is often applied to the policies of nations that consider only their own interests in dealing with other countries.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.