politics

noun

pol·​i·​tics ˈpä-lə-ˌtiks 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

1

: the art or science of government: as

a

: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy

Keynes's first and best book … was published in 1919. It came to influence thinking about twentieth-century politics as no other book did …

—Nicholas Fraser

b

: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government

… trying to understand recent French politics …

—Julian Towster

2

: political actions, practices, or policies

The same politics were followed by his successors.

—Ignazio Silone

… the treaty is very popular … in Iowa and New Hampshire … and is considered good politics …

—Elizabeth Drew

3

a

: political affairs or business

especially : competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government)

partisan politics

… local politics … can truly be empowering for everyday citizens.

—David Morris

b

: political life especially as a principal activity or profession

Politics is a competitive profession.

But a more subtle … quality in the Senator's arsenal of attractions is an unrelenting candor. … This is rare in politics …

—Joe Klein

c

: political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices

Play ward politics for local spoils and concessions and never mind the "big picture" …

—Toni Cade Bambara

4

: the political opinions or sympathies of a person

They have changed their politics.

5

a

: the total complex of relations between people living in society

b

: relations or conduct in a particular area of experience especially as seen or dealt with from a political point of view

I don't want to get involved in office politics

… the fascinating politics of success in the contemporary art world.

—Paul Taylor

Did you know?

Playing Politics

Politics is a multifaceted word. It has a set of fairly specific meanings that are descriptive and nonjudgmental (such as “the art or science of government” and "political principles"), but it can and often does carry a negative meaning closely related to these (“political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices”). English is a flexible language, and it is not uncommon for a word to have multiple related meanings that run the connotative gamut from good to bad. Some of these have been around for a surprisingly long time. The negative sense of politics, as seen in the phrase play politics, for example, has been in use since at least 1853, when abolitionist Wendell Phillips declared: “We do not play politics; anti-slavery is no half-jest with us.”

Examples of politics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 16 Nov. 2025

Dareh Gregorian Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News. —Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 8 Nov. 2025

Enthusiasm in politics is a good thing. —Abby McCloskey, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025

Institutional politicians have largely reacted with fear and insecurity, creating a leadership vacuum that has led to a sense that politics is a practice that gives a natural advantage to the most shameless actors. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Polletiques, Polytykys, as title of Aristotle's Politics, from politik "of spiritual or secular governance, political" + -iques, -ykys -ics, after Middle French politiques, polliticques and Medieval Latin polītica, after Greek tà politiká "public matters, civic affairs," from neuter plural of politikós "of citizens, civic, of a state, political, public" — more at politic

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing politics

• anti-politics
• enter politics
• go into politics
• identity politics
• office politics
• party politics
• play politics
• power politics

Rhymes for politics

• bolsheviks
• candlesticks
• crucifix
• intermix
• lunatics
• mensheviks
• orthotics
• politicks
• biopolitics
• bricks
• brix
• chicks

Kids Definition

politics

singular or plural noun

pol·​i·​tics ˈpäl-ə-ˌtiks 

1

a

: political science

b

: the art of guiding or influencing governmental policy

c

: the art of winning and holding control over a government

2

: political affairs or business

especially : competition between groups or individuals for power and leadership

3

: political opinions