politic

adjective

pol·​i·​tic ˈpä-lə-ˌtik 

1

: political

2

: characterized by shrewdness in managing, contriving, or dealing

… it would be politic to make friends of the rest of the family, and, if possible, have the ladies on his side.

—William Thackeray

3

: sagacious in promoting a policy

a politic statesman

4

: shrewdly tactful

a politic response

Did you know?

Politic behavior in class always requires a respectful attitude toward your teacher. It's never politic to ask for a raise when your boss is in a terrible mood. And once teenagers learn to drive, they quickly learn the politic way to ask for the car—that is, whatever gets the keys without upsetting the parents. As you can see, politic can be used for many situations that have nothing to do with public politics.

Synonyms of politic

• diplomatic
• polite
• respectful
• tactful
• thoughtful
• civil

Choose the Right Synonym for politic

expedient, politic, advisable mean dictated by practical or prudent motives.

expedient usually implies what is immediately advantageous without regard for ethics or consistent principles.

a politically expedient decision

politic stresses judiciousness and tactical value but usually implies some lack of candor or sincerity.

a politic show of interest

advisable applies to what is practical, prudent, or advantageous but lacks the derogatory implication of expedient and politic.

sometimes it's advisable to say nothing

suave, urbane, diplomatic, bland, smooth, politic mean pleasantly tactful and well-mannered.

suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

Examples of politic in a Sentence

It would not be politic to ignore them.

the actor is politic in discussing the aborted film project, being content to say that there were “creative differences”

Recent Examples on the Web

The interactions of the child protagonists have metaphoric and politic overtones. —Alex Dueben july 21, Literary Hub, 21 July 2025

Stirring up some of the local Chicago politic mix, with the cops and more, Smollett then was put under the spotlight of a special prosecutor and hauled before the courts for allegedly playing fast and loose with the truth and his own agenda. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 May 2025

Yet, while activist evangelical women worked with these groups, Schlafly’s Catholicism limited her ability to reach evangelicals who were more ambivalent about politic involvement. —Emily Suzanne Johnson / Made By History, TIME, 3 June 2024

For his part, Márki-Zay didn’t give the most politic concession speech. —John Fund, National Review, 5 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English politik, pollitique "of spiritual or secular governance, political, sagacious, prudent," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French politique "of the state, political, of the regulation of social behavior," borrowed from Latin polīticus "of civil government, political" (Medieval Latin, "judicious, prudent"), borrowed from Greek polītikós "of citizens, civic, made up of citizens, of a statesman, of a state, political, public," from polī́tēs "citizen, freeman" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at police entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing politic

• body politic
• the body politic

Rhymes for politic

• actinic
• agnatic
• bailiwick
• bolshevik
• candlestick
• chloritic
• deontic
• firebrick
• herpetic
• judaic
• lunatic
• orthotic

Kids Definition

politic

adjective

pol·​i·​tic ˈpäl-ə-ˌtik 

: wise especially in dealing with others or in carrying out a policy