Definition of the word political

Last Updated:
11 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

Translations

Promoted to Headline (H3) on 4/10/09: Dear President Obama, 3 federal judges say you must act to end ‘political purgatory’ for 23 million yahooBuzzArticleHeadline = ‘Dear President Obama, 3 federal judges say you must act to end ‘political purgatory’ for 23 million ‘; yahooBuzzArticleSummary =’ Article: The District of Columbia U.S. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The * political* reality (as Dean well knows, and the media and bloggers should point out) is that as electeds and political animals (though, it must be said, fearful ones it appears) supers are very, very, very unlikely to overturn the leader in pledged delegates. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The fundamental principle of our political fabric, the _political_ equality of all men, has afforded ample opportunity for designing persons to mislead the uninformed among the mass, and to make them believe that _political_ equality means social, intellectual, and moral equality, that all are in fact equal in all respects in society, and that their rights are infringed by their exclusion from such recognition. ❋ Various (N/A)

If he predicted a revolutionary crisis, it was to come from a life-and-death struggle of the working people in self-defense, in a desperate effort to protect economic and political rights, but especially _political_ rights, which, as the labor unionist, von Elm, said at this congress, were «the key to all.» ❋ William English Walling (N/A)

With regard to the political and metaphysical parts, I am afraid I can alter nothing; but I have high authority for my errors in that point, for even the _Æneid_ was a _political_ poem, and written for ❋ Thomas Moore (1815)

I answer, it has nothing to do with my Memoirs, as I was not in London during the whole of the row; but I shall by and by show, that it had a great deal more to do with political matters, or rather with a _political party, _ than was at the time imagined, or than is even now suspected. ❋ Henry Hunt (1804)

The political crisis is about the accountability of ­political power. ❋ David Miliband (2009)

Nothing political — nothing _political_! «he exclaimed. ❋ Stuart Oliver Henry (1906)

For some, the label «political activist» seems too technical to describe how they’re learning to balance being Muslim wives and mothers along with their desire to shape Egypt’s future. ❋ Stephanie Dahle (2011)

FDRbyGodDemocrat: Did Karl Rove just use the term «political minions»? ❋ The Huffington Post (2012)

Raju Mudhar Entertainment Reporter The Toronto media’s fascination with the Ford family and the NFL has given the term «political football» new meaning. ❋ Raju Mudhar (2011)

I mean, people — the term political correctness comes with a lot of baggage. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I mean, these people are — the term political correctness comes with a lot of baggage. ❋ Unknown (2009)

If the term political liberal was no longer a comfortable fit, he told Crisis magazine in 1988, «that’s the culture, not me.» ❋ Unknown (2009)

The term political religion is a sociological one, drawing on the sociological aspects of religion which can be often be found in certain secular ideologies. ❋ Unknown (2006)

The contemporary use of the term political correctness is said to derived from Marxist-Leninist vocabulary to describe the Party Line. ❋ Unknown (2006)

The student used political tactics to get an ‘A’ without learning anything.
The man wore a [suit and tie] to the [job interview] for political reasons.
[The presidential] candidate focused on the Latino vote and domestic issues for political reasons, hiding his real agenda. ❋ Kristopher Windsor (2008)

for example : sorry but I can’t [sort out] [the baby] [shower] , its too political ❋ Prinnyk (2018)

[God], I [hate] politics. ❋ Pshaw (2005)

[Guy A]: What do you think about politics.
[Guy B]: … Yeah, [I’m outta here]. ❋ Ryan Clark Jr. (2016)

Politics:
[republicans] [suck]
[democrats] suck ❋ ZQ (2005)

politics is [really] [screwed up] ❋ Fock You Assholes (2006)

«[Daddy], why did you [lie] to them?» «It’s politics, [son]» ❋ Jebblebbles (2008)

❋ Murdoch (2003)

Why is it that mankind will tear down a living leader, but [revere] [a dead one]? See [George Bush].
-The greatest, most intelligent move the devil has ever made is making us believe that he doesn’t exist… ❋ Phrigajiblenoghip (2004)

don’t be [rude]; be polite. ❋ Tanyawesome (2008)

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• politicall (obsolete)

Etymology[edit]

politic +‎ -al

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /pəˈlɪtɪkəl/
• Hyphenation: po‧lit‧i‧cal

Adjective[edit]

political (comparative more political, superlative most political)

1. Concerning or relating to politics, the art and process of governing.

   Political principles are rarely absolute, as political logic holds an imperfect result by compromise is better than a theoretically perfect abstention from the political process in the opposition.

   • 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:

     As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.

   • 2012 January 1, Philip E. Mirowski, “Harms to Health from the Pursuit of Profits”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 87:

     In an era when political leaders promise deliverance from decline through America’s purported preeminence in scientific research, the news that science is in deep trouble in the United States has been as unwelcome as a diagnosis of leukemia following the loss of health insurance.

   • 2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past.

2. Concerning a polity or its administrative components.

   Good political staff is hard to find, they may neither be ambitious and corrupted by power nor tempted by private sector careers.

3. (derogatory) Motivated, especially inappropriately, by political (electoral or other party political) calculation.

   “The Court invalidates Minnesota’s political apparel ban based on its inability to define the term ‘political’”

4. Of or relating to views about social relationships that involve power or authority.
5. (of a person) Interested in politics.

Synonyms[edit]

• politic

Antonyms[edit]

• nonpolitical, non-political

Derived terms[edit]

[edit]

Descendants[edit]

• → Hindi: पोलितिकल (politikal)

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

political (plural politicals)

1. A political agent or officer.
   • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society 2010, p. 265:

     One such officer was Count Nikolai Ignatiev, a brilliant and ambitious political, who enjoyed the ear of the Tsar and burned to settle his country’s scores with the British.

2. A publication focusing on politics.

References[edit]

• political at OneLook Dictionary Search
• political in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• “political”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.