politician

noun pol·i·ti·cian \ ˌpä-lə-ˈti-shən \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of politician

1 : a person experienced in the art or science of government; especially : one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government

2 a : a person engaged in party politics as a profession

b often disparaging : a person primarily interested in political office for selfish or other narrow usually short-sighted reasons

See politician defined for English-language learners

See politician defined for kids

Recent Examples of politician from the Web

British journalists, Peruvian politicians and Colombian drug lords have all proffered different theories about how Argentina convinced Peru to throw the match.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 10 Weeks to Go - The World Cries Foul as Peru Crumble Against Argentina in 1978," 13 Apr. 2018
Germany’s politicians and central bankers stoutly defended the value of their country’s money, putting pressure on weaker economies such as France and Italy.

— The Economist, "The somewhat reluctant hegemonGermany has been slow to reassess its place in the world," 12 Apr. 2018
Since Lula da Silva surrendered to federal police, PT politicians and supporters have held rallies calling for his release and claiming his innocence.

— spencer feingold, CNN, "Brazilian lawmakers request name change in support of Lula," 12 Apr. 2018
Opposition politicians and the local bar association are challenging the law, passed in December, that allows President Yoweri Museveni to potentially hold power for nearly five decades.

— emmanuel akinwotu, BostonGlobe.com, "Nigeria’s president rebuffs calls to step aside," 10 Apr. 2018
Investigators uncovered a major scheme in which construction companies essentially formed a cartel that doled out inflated contracts from state oil company Petrobras, paying billions in kickbacks to politicians and businessmen.

— Fox News, "Once wildly popular, Brazil's da Silva is jailed for graft," 8 Apr. 2018
The four-year probe has implicated scores of politicians and business figures, sparking one of the deepest political crises in the country’s recent history.

— jeffrey t. lewis, WSJ, "Brazil’s Ex-President Turns Himself in to Serve Jail Term," 7 Apr. 2018
Investigators uncovered a major scheme in which construction companies essentially formed a cartel that doled out inflated contracts from state oil company Petrobras, paying billions in kickbacks to politicians and businessmen.

— Time, "Brazil Is Bracing for the Arrest of Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva," 6 Apr. 2018
Abulhawa cites a meeting the orchestra has planned with Miri Regev, a controversial far-right Israeli politician and minister of culture and sport.

— peter dobrin, Philly.com, "Pro-Palestinian activists protest the Philadelphia Orchestra's Israel tour," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'politician.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

POLITICIAN Defined for English Language Learners

politician

noun

Definition of politician for English Language Learners

: someone who is active in government usually as an elected official

POLITICIAN Defined for Kids

politician

noun pol·i·ti·cian \ ˌpä-lə-ˈti-shən \

Definition of politician for Students

: a person who is active in government usually as an elected official

Learn More about politician

See words that rhyme with politician Spanish Central: Translation of politician Nglish: Translation of politician for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of politician for Arabic speakers

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politician

Definition of politician

Recent Examples of politician from the Web

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POLITICIAN Defined for English Language Learners

politician

Definition of politician for English Language Learners

POLITICIAN Defined for Kids

politician

Definition of politician for Students

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