political
Pluralpoliticals
- 1Relating to politics, government, or how a country and its regions are organized and run.
The news showed a political debate between the two candidates.
Our teacher let us write about any political topic, like voting or new laws.
UsageUsually before a noun: a political party. A person in politics is a politician.
- 2A critical way to say something was done to win votes, gain power or push beliefs, not for good reasons.
Critics said the firing was political and had nothing to do with her work.
He called the new rule a political move to win votes before the election.
UsageOften after be or as: the firing was political.
Similarpartisan, politicized
Oppositeimpartial, nonpartisan, objective
Note
- 3Interested in politics and in talking or thinking about it.
My grandmother is very political and watches the news every night.
He became political in college and joined a student group.
UsageOften very political, or become political.
Oppositeapolitical
- 4About power between people and groups: who has it and how it is used.
Decisions about who gets paid more are political, even inside a family business.
The film looks at the political side of office life, where some voices count more than others.
UsageAt work, people call this office politics.
Less common meanings
- 5A person kept in prison because of their political beliefs or actions.
As a political, he was kept apart from the other prisoners.
The guards kept the politicals away from the other prisoners.
UsageMost people say political prisoner.
- 6A government officer who handles relations with leaders of another area or group.
- 7A magazine, paper, or website that is mostly about politics.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From the word "politic" plus the ending "-al".
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Political derives from politic plus the suffix -al. en.wiktionary.org