politico

¹

[ puh-lit-i-koh ]

noun

, plural po·lit·i·cos.

1. a politician.

politico-

²

1. a combining form representing political in compound words:

   politico-religious.

politico-

¹

combining_form

1. denoting political or politics

   politicoeconomic

politico

²

/ pəˈlɪtɪˌkəʊ /

noun

1. an informal word for a politician politician

Word History and Origins

Origin of politico¹

1620–30; < Italian or Spanish

Word History and Origins

Origin of politico¹

C17: from Italian or Spanish

Example Sentences

That a non-Latino will represent the Eastside, the cradle of Latino politics in the city, for the first time in nearly 40 years, is particularly galling to some Eastside residents and especially politicos.

From Los Angeles Times

The George Washington High School Marching Band played, and long-time San Francisco politicos, dressed in their election day best, worked the crowd and posed for photos.

From Los Angeles Times

Every four years, British politicos stream across the Atlantic for a taste of campaigning on a far bigger canvas.

From BBC

Shortly after he announced his candidacy, local politicos demanded he stand down — they already had a candidate in mind.

From Los Angeles Times

If he had stuck to his record, De León might have convinced me that he truly was a changed politico.

From Los Angeles Times

More About Politico

What does politico mean?

Politico is an informal word for a politician—a person who holds or is seeking political office as an elected government official.

Like the word politician, politico 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).

Politico is especially used to refer to a long-term politician who’s experienced in making political deals or exchanging political favors.

For that reason, it’s often used in a negative way, such as to refer to politicians who are considered members of the establishment.

The informal term pol can be used to mean the same thing.

Example: We should be focusing on real issues instead of listening to endless rhetoric from politicos and pundits.

Where does politico come from?

Politico might sound like a modern slang term, but the first records of its use in English come from around 1630. It’s thought to have been borrowed from Spanish or Italian, but it has the same roots as its synonym, politician. It ultimately derives from the Greek polītikós, which means “civil” and is related to the Greek polī́t(ēs), “citizen.”

The term career politician refers to a representative who has spent a long time as an elected official and usually implies that they haven’t accomplished much other than continuing to get elected. The word politico can be used to mean the same thing. It’s especially used to refer to politicians who are considered insiders in the political world.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to politico?

• politicos (plural)

What are some synonyms for politico?

• pol
• politician
• elected official
• representative
• officeholder

What are some words that share a root or word element with politico? 

• politic
• politics
• political

What are some words that often get used in discussing politico?

• lawmaker
• legislator
• partisan
• greedy
• corrupt
• establishment
• pundit

How is politico used in real life?

Politico is usually used informally. It’s often used negatively to criticize career politicians.

Normal, everyday Americans are far less ideological than politicos and pundits.

Just something to consider for no reason in particular at all.

— Matt Rogers 🗳 (@Politidope) March 2, 2020

Election? What election? Why the @Nationals are the hot story for DC politicos and pundits: http://t.co/lvpsardT @mikeallen @MarkZuckerman

— Patrick Hruby (@patrick_hruby) September 26, 2012

Complaints about politicians getting squishy with the truth (or just outright lying) are frequent. Many decisions career politicos make look bad in hindsight.

With Bernie, neither of those was true. Yet, it wasn't enough. @ebruenig from the NYT column: https://t.co/csmiJTKHYE

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) April 11, 2020

 

Try using politico!

Which of the following words can be used as a synonym of politico?

A. pol
B. politician
C. officeholder
D. all of the above