political

[ puh-lit-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerned with politics:

   political writers.

2. of, relating to, or connected with a political party:

   a political campaign.

3. exercising or seeking power in the governmental or public affairs of a state, municipality, etc.:

   a political machine;

   a political boss.

4. of, relating to, or involving the state or its government:

   a political offense.

5. having a definite policy or system of government:

   a political community.

6. of or relating to citizens:

   political rights.

political

/ pəˈlɪtɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the state, government, the body politic, public administration, policy-making, etc
2. 1. of, involved in, or relating to government policy-making as distinguished from administration or law
   2. of or relating to the civil aspects of government as distinguished from the military
3. of, dealing with, or relating to politics

   a political person

4. of, characteristic of, or relating to the parties and the partisan aspects of politics
5. organized or ordered with respect to government

   a political unit

Derived Forms

• poˈlitically, adverb

Other Words From

• po·liti·cal·ly adverb
• anti·po·liti·cal adjective
• anti·po·liti·cal·ly adverb
• nonpo·liti·cal adjective
• nonpo·liti·cal·ly adverb
• over·po·liti·cal adjective
• over·po·liti·cal·ly adverb
• prepo·liti·cal adjective
• prepo·liti·cal·ly adverb
• pseudo·po·liti·cal adjective
• quasi-po·liti·cal adjective
• quasi-po·liti·cal·ly adverb
• subpo·liti·cal adjective
• subpo·liti·cal·ly adverb
• unpo·liti·cal adjective
• unpo·liti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of political¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin polītic(us) “civic” ( politic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

None of our procedural, political or financial excuses for inaction mean anything if we continue to pump the atmosphere full of greenhouse gases that endanger life on this planet as we know it.

From Los Angeles Times

Political setbacks, missed targets and failed ambitions are certainly alarming and demoralizing in the context of such a threat.

From Los Angeles Times

Macron’s move angered many Algerians, who view the award of France's Prix Goncourt to Daoud as a political rather than a literary gesture.

From BBC

In George Orwell’s classic depiction of an authoritarian society, “Nineteen Eighty-four,” a key component of political control is the state’s erasure of history: “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten … every date has been altered. … After the thing is done, no evidence ever remains.”

From Los Angeles Times

But political events force him to close up shop in the midst of those prosecutions.

From Los Angeles Times