Etimology
politic + -al
adjective
political (comparative more political, superlative most political)
Concerning or relating to politics, the art and process of governing.
Concerning a polity or its administrative components.
(derogatory) Motivated, especially inappropriately, by political (electoral; or, more generally, power, standing, influence or conflict) calculation.
Of or relating to views about social relationships that involve power, standing, influence or conflict.
(of a person) Interested in politics.
Examples
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.
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.
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.
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.
Good political staff is hard to find, they may neither be ambitious and corrupted by power nor tempted by private sector careers.
“The Court invalidates Minnesota’s political apparel ban based on its inability to define the term ‘political'”
Related words
synonyms
politic
antonyms
nonpolitical, non-political
related terms
politician
politicize
politick
politico
noun
political (plural politicals)
A political agent or officer.
A publication focusing on politics.
Examples
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.