politics
Pluralpolitics
- 1The ways people run a government, group, or movement.
Like the rules and moves people use to steer a group toward a goal.
Local politics decides how the town spends its money.
Our class studied the politics of running a small city, from budgets to elections.
UsageSay the politics of a city or a group.
Note
- 2The clever moves people make to gain power or influence in a group.
Like a quiet game where people compete behind the scenes to get their way.
Office politics made the promotion process feel unfair.
She refused to play politics just to get ahead.
UsageSay office politics for fights over power at work.
Similarinfighting, maneuvering, machinations, jockeying
Note
- 3The job of working in government and helping make public decisions.
He left law to go into politics.
A career in politics demands long hours and public scrutiny.
UsageSay go into politics, with no the.
Similargovernment
- 4The political opinions and beliefs a person holds.
Like a personal flag that shows which side of an argument you stand on.
Her politics lean to the left these days.
His politics changed after he moved to the city.
UsageUse are: his politics are very different from mine.
Similarviews, beliefs, opinions, ideology, convictions
- 5Real-world beliefs or social issues that people feel don't belong in the topic being discussed.
Like bringing up your boss at a birthday party: it just doesn't belong there.
Fans complained that the show kept pushing politics into its storylines.
Please keep politics out of the group chat.
UsageSay leave politics out of it.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of politics apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From the word 'politic', modeled on a Greek phrase meaning 'affairs of state'.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Politics derives from politic. en.wiktionary.org
- Politics was modeled on a Greek phrase meaning 'affairs of state'. en.wiktionary.org