political

adjective

po·​lit·​i·​cal pə-ˈli-ti-kəl 

1

a

: of or relating to government, a government, or the conduct of government

b

: of, relating to, or concerned with the making as distinguished from the administration of governmental policy

2

: of, relating to, involving, or involved in politics and especially party politics

3

: organized in governmental terms

political units

4

: involving or charged or concerned with acts against a government or a political system

political prisoners

politically

pə-ˈli-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of political in a Sentence

The senator has changed political parties.

Health care has become a major political issue in recent years.

a group of political activists

We need a political solution rather than a military solution.

Recent Examples on the Web

While Benin has historically been among the most stable democracies in Africa, opposition leaders and human rights organizations have accused Talon of using the justice system as a tool to sideline political opponents. —ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

Still, the image sparked backlash from Christians across the political spectrum, with critics calling it inappropriate and offensive. —Anna McAllister, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026

In 2019, the political scientists Katherine Levine Einstein, Maxwell Palmer, and David Glick published a study examining who attended such meetings in the Boston area. —Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026

The rare Sunday Cabinet meeting to finalize the relief measures came as the coalition government faces new political pressures from rivals critical of their handling of the crisis. —Brian Melley, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

politic or its source, Latin polīticus "of civil government, political" + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing political

• anti-political
• political action committee
• political animal
• political economy
• political favor
• political football
• political prisoner
• political science

Rhymes for political

• levitical
• noncritical
• subcritical
• uncritical
• analytical
• apolitical
• diacritical
• hypercritical
• hypocritical
• nonpolitical
• parasitical
• supercritical

Kids Definition

political

adjective

po·​lit·​i·​cal pə-ˈlit-i-kəl 

1

: of or relating to a government or the conduct of government

2

: of or relating to politics

3

: organized in governmental terms

political units

4

: involving, concerned with, or accused of acts against a government or political system

political prisoners

politically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb