political

[puh-lit-i-kuh l] /pəˈlɪt ɪ kəl/

adjective

of, pertaining to, or concerned with politics:

political writers.

of, pertaining to, or connected with a political party:

a political campaign.

exercising or seeking power in the governmental or public affairs of a state, municipality, etc.:

a political machine; a political boss.

of, pertaining to, or involving the state or its government:

a political offense.

having a definite policy or system of government:

a political community.

of or pertaining to citizens:

political rights.

Origin

1545-55; < Latin polītic(us) civic (see politic) + -al¹

Related forms

politically, adverb

antipolitical, adjective

antipolitically, adverb

nonpolitical, adjective

nonpolitically, adverb

overpolitical, adjective

overpolitically, adverb

prepolitical, adjective

prepolitically, adverb

pseudopolitical, adjective

quasi-political, adjective

quasi-politically, adverb

subpolitical, adjective

subpolitically, adverb

unpolitical, adjective

unpolitically, adverb

Can be confused

politic, political.

politically, politicly.

Examples from the web for political

This overview will be indispensable to anyone interested in political and civil liberties.
Our political differences, however, never lessened our personal friendship.
Voter databases are old hat to political campaigns.
The portion of my union dues that is spent on political activity is decided by elected bodies that I can vote on.
He understood that the solutions do not lie in any one leader or political party.
However, overt political titles are responsible for fueling its growth in recent years.
The first complete system of political economy by the articulator of laissez-faire capitalism.
The two research workers developed three measures of political knowledge, involvement and ideas.
He explores the tension between inspiring, idealistic leadership and the art of political compromise.
Weird, all that political action on behalf of a fake trend.

British Dictionary definitions for political

political

/pəˈlɪtɪkəl/

adjective

of or relating to the state, government, the body politic, public administration, policy-making, etc

of, involved in, or relating to government policy-making as distinguished from administration or law
of or relating to the civil aspects of government as distinguished from the military

of, dealing with, or relating to politics: a political person

of, characteristic of, or relating to the parties and the partisan aspects of politics

organized or ordered with respect to government: a political unit

Derived Forms

politically, adverb

Word Origin and History for political

adj.

1550s, "pertaining to a polity, civil affairs, or government;" from Latin politicus "of citizens or the state" (see politic (adj.)) + -al (1). Meaning "taking sides in party politics" (usually pejorative) is from 1749. Political prisoner first recorded 1860; political science is from 1779 (first attested in Hume). Political animal translates Greek politikon zoon (Aristotle, "Politics," I.ii.9) "an animal intended to live in a city; a social animal."