different between politic vs political

English

Alternative forms

• politick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French politique, from Latin politicus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (politikós), from ??????? (polít?s, “citizen”). Cognate with German politisch (“political”). Doublet of politico.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p?l?t?k/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?p?l?t?k/

Adjective

politic (comparative more politic, superlative most politic)

1. (archaic) Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.
2. (archaic, of things) Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong.
   • c. 1592, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Richard the Third, Act II, scene iii:

     For then this land was famously enrich'd / With politic grave counsel

3. (archaic) Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious
   • c. 1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act V, scene iv:

     I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy

4. Shrewd, prudent and expedient.
5. Discreet and diplomatic.
6. Artful, crafty or cunning.

Antonyms

• impolitic

Related terms

• police
• policy
• political
• politician
• politicize
• politics
• polity

Noun

politic (plural politics)

1. (archaic) A politician.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)

   • 1871, Benjamin Jowett, Plato: The Republic Chapter III

     And therefore our politic Asclepius may be supposed to have exhibited the power of his art only to persons who... had a definite ailment.

Verb

politic (third-person singular simple present politics, present participle politicking, simple past and past participle politicked)

1. To engage in political activity; politick.

Interlingua

Adjective

politic (comparative plus politic, superlative le plus politic)

1. political

Ladin

Adjective

politic m pl

1. plural of politich

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin pol?ticus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (politikós).

Adjective

politic m (feminine singular politica, masculine plural politics, feminine plural politicas)

1. political

Derived terms

• politizar

English

Alternative forms

• politicall (obsolete)

Etymology

politic +? -al

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p??l?t?k?l/
• Hyphenation: po?lit?i?cal

Adjective

political (comparative more political, superlative most political)

1. Concerning or relating to politics, the art and process of governing.
2. Concerning a polity or its administrative components.

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

• politic

Antonyms

• nonpolitical, non-political

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Descendants

• ? Hindi: ???????? (politikal)

Noun

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

• 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.