politics

American  

[pol-i-tiks] / ˈpɒl ɪ tɪks /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. the science or art of political government.

2. the practice or profession of conducting political affairs.

3. political affairs.

   The advocated reforms have become embroiled in politics.

4. political methods or maneuvers.

   We could not approve of his politics in winning passage of the bill.

5. political principles or opinions.

   We avoided discussion of religion and politics. His politics are his own affair.

6. use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining any position of power or control, as in business, university, etc.

7. (initial capital letter, italics) a treatise (4th century b.c.) by Aristotle, dealing with the structure, organization, and administration of the state, especially the city-state as known in ancient Greece.

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idioms

1. play politics,

   1. to engage in political intrigue, take advantage of a political situation or issue, resort to partisan politics, etc.; exploit a political system or political relationships.

   2. to deal with people in an opportunistic, manipulative, or devious way, as for job advancement.

politics British  

/ ˈpɒlɪtɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) the practice or study of the art and science of forming, directing, and administrating states and other political units; the art and science of government; political science

2. (functioning as singular) the complex or aggregate of relationships of people in society, esp those relationships involving authority or power

3. (functioning as plural) political activities or affairs

   party politics

4. (functioning as singular) the business or profession of politics

5. (functioning as singular or plural) any activity concerned with the acquisition of power, gaining one's own ends, etc

   company politics are frequently vicious

6. (functioning as plural) opinions, principles, sympathies, etc, with respect to politics

   his conservative politics

7. (functioning as plural)

   1. the policy-formulating aspects of government as distinguished from the administrative, or legal

   2. the civil functions of government as distinguished from the military

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politics More Idioms  

1. see play politics.

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Other Word Forms

• antipolitics adjective
• propolitics adjective

Etymology

Origin of politics

First recorded in 1520–30; politic, -ics

Example Sentences

And with this description of parts of the Home Office in 2006, the then-Home Secretary John Reid minted a phrase that has lodged in the lexicon of British politics.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

"This also affects the islands' attitude towards politics: They approach it pragmatically instead of ideologically, simply wanting the country to function well," the analyst explained.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

“There are a lot of politics around the Persian origin,” said Al Hussein, who is Emirati of ancestral Persian origin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

But their influence was mainly limited to Congress, the Legislature and local politics.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

In a slightly smaller font beneath these words, it says: Join our new group for young activists, get involved with local politics, and create the change you wish to see!

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Related Words

• campaigning
• government