Politic

//ˈpɒl.ɪ.tɪk// adj, noun, verb

adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A politician. archaic

    "to speake truly of politikes & Statesmen"

  2. 2
    A politics; a set of political beliefs.

    "While the stories and lives on the screen are alternately moving and funny, an unspoken question arises: does similar experience always lead to a coherent politic?"

Verb
  1. 1
    Alternative spelling of politick. alt-of, alternative

    "That why you turned the Kanuyaq Land Trust into the IRS for using donations to politic instead of to buy land?"

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political. archaic

    "the body politic"

  2. 2
    Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong. archaic

    "a politic treaty"

  3. 3
    Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious archaic

    "I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy"

  4. 4
    Shrewd, prudent and expedient; showing policy.

    "But as he headed for the front of the line one of his minders whispered that it might be politic to go to the back."

  5. 5
    Discreet and diplomatic.

    "A unanimous exclamation called upon Evelyn himself to speak; and, after a minute's politic pause, he went on to state his plan."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    Artful, crafty or cunning.
Adjective
  1. 1
    smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication wordnet
  2. 2
    marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
expedientsagaciousacuteadeptadroitadvantageous

Example

More examples

"No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; am an attendant lord, one that will do to swell a progress, start a scene or two, advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool, deferential, glad to be of use, politic, cautious, and meticulous; full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse; at times, indeed, almost ridiculous— almost, at times, the Fool."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle French politique, from Latin politicus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós), from πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”). Cognate with German politisch (“political”). Doublet of politico.

Etymology 2

Back-formation from politicking.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.