Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

politician

noun pol·i·ti·cian \ ˌpä-lə-ˈti-shən \
|Updated on: 12 Jun 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

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

  1. 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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up politician? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

effigy

play

a figure representing a hated person

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

politician

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games