politic

See also: polític

English

Alternative forms

• politick (obsolete)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɒlətɪk/

• Audio (RP)

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑlətɪk/

Adjective

politic (comparative more politic, superlative most politic)

1. (archaic) Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.

   the body politic

   • 1593, Sir Philip Sidney, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia:

     […] he with his people made all but one politic body whereof himself was the head

2. (archaic, of things) Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong.

   a politic treaty

   • 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.
   • 1915, T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, published 1917:

     Deferential, glad to be of use, / Politic, cautious, and meticulous;

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?)

   • 1848, James Russell Lowell, The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell, Epigrams, 3:

     Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; / Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.

   • 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.
   • 2002, Dana Stabenow, A Fine and Bitter Snow, →ISBN, page 206:

     That why you turned the Kanuyaq Land Trust into the IRS for using donations to politic instead of to buy land?

   • 2009, Scott N. Brooks, Black Men Can't Shoot, →ISBN, page 169:

     His brother [Anthony], he politicked him so well, that even his [Jason's] attitude, all the scouts got away from [forgot about] his [bad] attitude because he was a good player.

   • 2017, John Hayman, Bitter Harvest: Richmond Flowers and the Civil Rights Revolution, →ISBN:

     He made errors, and they should have reversed him, but he politicked the thing through.

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Interlingua

Adjective

politic (comparative plus politic, superlative le plus politic)

1. political

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Ladin

Adjective

politic m pl

1. plural of politich

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Occitan

Etymology

From Latin polīticus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós).

Adjective

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

1. political

Derived terms

• politizar