politician
Americannoun
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a person who is active in party politics.
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a seeker or holder of public office, who is more concerned about winning favor or retaining power than about maintaining principles.
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a person who holds a political office.
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a person skilled in political government or administration; statesman or stateswoman.
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an expert in politics or political government.
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a person who seeks to gain power or advancement within an organization in ways that are generally disapproved.
noun
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a person actively engaged in politics, esp a full-time professional member of a deliberative assembly
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a person who is experienced or skilled in the art or science of politics, government, or administration; statesman
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derogatory a person who engages in politics out of a wish for personal gain, as realized by holding a public office
Usage
What does politician mean? A politician is a person who holds or is seeking political office as an elected government official.The word 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).The word politician is often used in a negative way. That’s because being a politician is often associated with attempting to be likeable to the largest possible group of people (voters) in order to get elected and gain influence—and perhaps doing so for one’s own benefit, instead of the public.Politicians are often affiliated with political parties and associated with party politics, which involve the strict adherence to the policies and principles of a political party, regardless of the public interest, often resulting in partisanship.The word politician is also commonly used in a figurative way to refer to a person who’s particularly skilled at navigating the politics—the activities involving gaining and maintaining power and influence—of a certain situation, such as the workplace. Calling someone a politician in this way usually implies that they are good at building support, especially with the goal of helping them to further some agenda or boost or maintain their power in that setting. However, it also usually implies that such a person is at least somewhat dishonest or fake (like many real politicians are often accused of being). The word is often applied in this way to someone who tells people what they want to hear in order to gain power or influence.When someone says that an elected official is “not a politician” (even though they obviously are in the literal sense), they usually mean that that person is exactly as they seem—they’re not presenting an artificial public persona.Example: We need to demand more substance from our politicians, who should be focusing on the real issues instead of scoring political points with their supporters.
Related Words
Politician, statesman refer to one skilled in politics. These terms differ particularly in their connotations; politician is more often derogatory, and statesman laudatory. Politician suggests the schemes and devices of a person who engages in (especially small) politics for party ends or for one's own advantage: a dishonest politician. Statesman suggests the eminent ability, foresight, and unselfish patriotic devotion of a person dealing with (especially important or great) affairs of state: a distinguished statesman.
Other Word Forms
- nonpolitician noun
- self-politician noun
Etymology
Origin of politician
From the French word politicien, dating back to 1580–90. See politic, -ian
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inflation and energy security became the public’s and politicians’ priorities.
Gary was also a significant contributor to and pal of President Bill Clinton, and hosted events with politicians like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Scotsman newspaper claims that a former worker had placed listening devices in the office of an unnamed politician in late 2023.
From BBC
In the US, a jobhunting tech worker called Eric Thompson is making politicians in Washington DC increasingly aware of the issue.
From BBC
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has been accused of showing "an incredible lack of respect and a dinosaur-like attitude" to the Welsh language by a Plaid Cymru politician.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
