politics

noun

pol·​i·​tics ˈpä-lə-ˌtiks How to pronounce politics (audio)
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
1
a
: the art or science of government
b
: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy
c
: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
2
: political actions, practices, or policies
3
a
: political affairs or business
especially : competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government)
b
: political life especially as a principal activity or profession
c
: political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices
4
: the political opinions or sympathies of a person
5
a
: the total complex of relations between people living in society
b
: relations or conduct in a particular area of experience especially as seen or dealt with from a political point of view
office politics
ethnic politics

Did you know?

Playing Politics

Politics is a multifaceted word. It has a set of fairly specific meanings that are descriptive and nonjudgmental (such as “the art or science of government” and "political principles"), but it can and often does carry a negative meaning closely related to these (“political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices”). English is a flexible language, and it is not uncommon for a word to have multiple related meanings that run the connotative gamut from good to bad. Some of these have been around for a surprisingly long time. The negative sense of politics, as seen in the phrase play politics, for example, has been in use since at least 1853, when abolitionist Wendell Phillips declared: “We do not play politics; anti-slavery is no half-jest with us.”

Examples of politics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Disappointed climate activists will be pushing to turn the ratchet further as soon as politics permit. The Editors, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024 While Abbott had a higher percentage of successes, Paxton secured important wins in key House and judicial races, said Cal Jillson, an American politics professor at Southern Methodist University. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2024 In vitro fertilization, explained by an expert White House, DOJ unveil new plan to protect personal data from China and Russia Alabama Sen. Katie Britt to deliver GOP response to State of the Union Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024 Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security. Adam Shaw, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2024 Jonathan Allen Jonathan Allen is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News, based in Washington. Carol E. Lee, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024 In: Train Derailment East Palestine Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2024 By Philip Elliott February 16, 2024 6:00 AM EST This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIME’s politics newsletter. TIME, 16 Feb. 2024 Kim Yun-cheol, the politics professor, said Kim Keon Hee differs significantly from other first ladies before her. Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'politics.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Polletiques, Polytykys, as title of Aristotle's Politics, from politik "of spiritual or secular governance, political" + -iques, -ykys -ics, after Middle French politiques, polliticques and Medieval Latin polītica, after Greek tà politiká "public matters, civic affairs," from neuter plural of politikós "of citizens, civic, of a state, political, public" — more at politic

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of politics was circa 1529

Dictionary Entries Near politics

Cite this Entry

“Politics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politics. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

politics

noun singular or plural
pol·​i·​tics ˈpäl-ə-ˌtiks How to pronounce politics (audio)
1
b
: the art of guiding or influencing governmental policy
c
: the art of winning and holding control over a government
2
: political affairs or business
especially : competition between groups or individuals for power and leadership
3
: political opinions

More from Merriam-Webster on politics

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