realpolitik

American  

[rey-ahl-poh-li-teek, ree-] / reɪˈɑlˌpoʊ lɪˌtik, ri- /

Or Realpolitik

noun

1. political realism or practical politics, especially policy based on power rather than on ideals.

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realpolitik British  

/ reɪˈɑːlpɒlɪˈtiːk /

noun

1. a ruthlessly realistic and opportunist approach to statesmanship, rather than a moralistic one, esp as exemplified by Bismarck

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realpolitik Cultural  

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• realpolitiker noun

Etymology

Origin of realpolitik

First recorded in 1910–15; from German, equivalent to real real ¹ + Politik “politics, policy”; politic

Example Sentences

Yesterday’s north star of global financial harmony has yielded to today’s realpolitik.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Legitimate arguments could be made for rebooting U.S.–Saudi relations, on various realpolitik grounds.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2025

In an email, Norman Ornstein, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a prominent pro-democracy voice, offered a dose of realpolitik.

From Salon • Aug. 14, 2025

He invited controversy, however, not by advocating a more amoral, realpolitik foreign policy but by delivering a finger-wagging, highly moralistic lecture about, among other things, how our allies are insufficiently liberal about free expression.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2025

An inevitable result of the realpolitik of terrorism is the collaboration with the less savoury elements of society.

From Terrorists and Freedom Fighters by Vaknin, Samuel

Related Words

• civics