politic

[ pol-i-tik ]

adjective

1. shrewd or prudent in practical matters; tactful; diplomatic.

   Synonyms: discreet, wary, astute

   Antonyms: tactless, indiscreet, imprudent

2. contrived in a shrewd and practical way; expedient:

   a politic reply.

3. political:

   the body politic.

politic

/ ˈpɒlɪtɪk /

adjective

1. artful or shrewd; ingenious

   a politic manager

2. crafty or unscrupulous; cunning

   a politic old scoundrel

3. sagacious, wise, or prudent, esp in statesmanship

   a politic choice

4. See political
   an archaic word for political

Derived Forms

• ˈpoliticly, adverb

Other Words From

• poli·tic·ly adverb
• over·poli·tic adjective
• pre·poli·tic adjective
• pseudo·poli·tic adjective
• quasi-poli·tic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of politic¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English politik, from Middle French politique, from Latin polīticus, from Greek polītikós “civic,” from polī́t(ēs) “citizen” ( polity ) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of politic¹

C15: from Old French politique, from Latin polīticus concerning civil administration, from Greek politikos, from politēs citizen, from polis city

Synonym Study

See diplomatic.

Example Sentences

Pelosi, for her part, flatly denies that politics has anything to do with her negotiating tactics.

From Washington Post

This time, politics podcast host and producer Galen Druke asks if this could be the year Democrats win Texas for the first time since 1976.

From FiveThirtyEight

It is, Smith argues, a folk concept, combining politics with essentialist folk biology.

From Nautilus

The same thing is true in politics, and I’ve always evaluated my workplace not by what they say but by who is doing the most talking.

From Fortune

Facebook’s newly announced rules only apply to new ads about “social issues, elections or politics.”

From ProPublica

As Reagan injected the toxicity of racial division into the American body politic, Jackson spoke about “coming up together”.

From The Daily Beast

Negotiation and compromise are the lifeblood of democracy, not poison to the body politic.

From The Daily Beast

A divisive selfishness had emerged in the late 1960s that had begun to dominate the body politic.

From The Daily Beast

Our nation may have healed, but there are still exposed nerves that, when touched, cause trauma to the body politic.

From The Daily Beast

Government activism on behalf of the common man was an unforgivable sin to be extirpated from the body politic.

From The Daily Beast

He had tried to soften his reply, but not being politic or tactful had succeeded only in expressing himself more brusquely.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a politic monarch, the patron of men of letters, and an excellent author himself.

From Project Gutenberg

The more politic plan was therefore adopted of enlisting the people themselves in the cause as much as might be.

From Project Gutenberg

Her politic sovereigns soon found this a losing game, and offered large bounties for the importation of artists and machinery.

From Project Gutenberg

There was, however, a large party in Spain which regarded the designs of the French king with an enlightened and politic alarm.

From Project Gutenberg