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

Many of the migrants who have left the country for economic or political reasons in recent years have neither. —Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

Sooner or later, a formula for coexistence undergirded by legal, political, and social equality must be found. —Ziad Asali, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024

There are also political newcomers like Richmond businessman Jamison Carrier and Darin Childress. —Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Apr. 2024

In North Carolina, a political party only needs to gather more than 13,000 signatures of voters to get on the ballot. —Ashley Lopez, NPR, 17 Apr. 2024

The long political game in Hollywood and D.C. denies that freedom. —Armond White, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024

Levine Cava was just one of the political leaders at Monday evening’s assembly at Barry University. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024

Yet the political stakes are less clear because a conviction would not preclude him from becoming president and because the allegations in this case date back years and are seen as less grievous than the conduct behind the three other indictments. —Jennifer Peltz, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024

Redmon’s effort to repatriate it turns this historical documentary into a political thriller and an astounding hands-on heist film. —The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024

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

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