Home UK English politic

Meaning of politic in English:

politic

Pronunciation /ˈpɒlɪtɪk/

See synonyms for politic

Translate politic into Spanish

adjective

  • 1(of an action) seeming sensible and judicious in the circumstances.

    with infinitive ‘I did not think it politic to express my reservations’
    • ‘It is not uncommon for such types to feel impelled to state their vision of the truth boldly and uncompromisingly in circumstances where it would be more tactful and more politic to keep silent.’
    • ‘She was just a little offended by the implications in his words and was suddenly bored with his arrogance and decided to get rid all the noble-sounding, diplomatic and politic speeches.’
    • ‘Europeans need to remember that in many important ways they are playing catch-up to America, and that it might be more politic not to repeatedly claim to be wiser and more mature than everybody else.’
    • ‘And then expedience comes along and asks the question, is it politic?’
    • ‘Knowing Chris's sensitivity to criticism and the power he wields, it seems politic not to have this on videotape.’
    • ‘Affecting someone's conscience by grace and restraint does not mean rolling over and playing dead, muttering meaningless politically correct platitudes, or remaining silent as many find it politic to do.’
    • ‘It would not have been politic to say ‘no’ to Celtic and Rangers, far better to allow for the possibility but in the context of more far-reaching changes that will not be tolerated by any of the four associations.’
    • ‘So you have to become more politic, which is quite difficult for me.’
    • ‘And very smart and very politic, she was clad in white as sailors who were lining the deck - they were holding California flags and symbolizing their new home.’
    • ‘The all too visible wire that allows it to stand, if not to fly like Mary Martin, is, of course, theism, boldly asserted or watered down as deemed politic for various audiences.’
    • ‘The descent of property of every kind therefore to all the children, or to all the brothers and sisters, or other relations in equal degree, is a politic measure and a practicable one.’
    • ‘Even if we could persuade every single theatrical liberal that it is in the best interest of the liberal agenda to behave in a more politic way, it would not make one bit of difference.’
    • ‘His second teacher was infamous - a man with an orderly, capacious, avaricious mind, who dealt in systems and series, though was not so politic as he might have been.’
    • ‘Foreign dignitaries found it politic to stay away.’
    • ‘It is probably not politic to admit it, but if you are my friend you can get me to do a whole range of things outside my zone of ethical comfort just by applying enough emotional pressure.’
    • ‘But these insurgent parties often quickly backslid on their founding principles when it became politic to do so.’
    • ‘They get nothing but applause from me on that score, but I do wish they would tackle Europe, and other issues, with a little more honesty than they seem to believe is politic.’
    • ‘It is the metaphoric link between the melodramatic and the politic that America does so well yet, inevitably, gets so wrong.’
    • ‘But you'd understand if they thought it politic to pass.’
    • ‘It doesn't seem politic to ask the police whether they habitually patrol rap gigs wearing black SWAT-style jumpsuits and armed with machine guns.’
    wise, prudent, sensible, judicious, canny, well judged, sagacious, expedient, shrewd, astute, discreet, tactful, diplomatic
    View synonyms
    1. 1.1archaic (of a person) prudent and sagacious.
      • ‘Henry of Navarre was a resolute, active, and politick prince’
      prudent, prescient, foresighted, discerning, judicious, shrewd, percipient, provident, forearmed, politic, canny
      View synonyms

verbpolitics, politicking, politicked

[no object]derogatory

  • Engage in political activity.

    • ‘agencies who politic and posture for no other reason than to promote themselves’
    • ‘Do they start politicking, if you will, start talking to each other, campaigning for votes or helping others that they want?’
    • ‘‘Let us set aside bickering and politicking for at least one year,’ she said.’
    • ‘Sounds like those volunteers were well within the 100-foot legal limit for politicking at the polls.’
    • ‘But when he became disillusioned with what he saw on the inside of the old party politicking he dropped out to support independents.’
    • ‘They were locations for politicking and intrigue.’
    • ‘This has the earmarks of the sort of backroom politicking that has marked some of the darkest chapters in American history.’
    • ‘It seems to me that this misses the whole point of politics and politicking - these things are not self-sustaining.’
    • ‘Their policies and programs are far superior, but they are pikers compared to him when it comes to politicking.’
    • ‘The legislature has proved less a law-making body than a platform for politicking and pressure by the various parties.’
    • ‘They are the ones who have been organizing abroad for the past twenty years and have experience in politicking.’
    • ‘If there is an art form to politicking, this guy was the best of all time.’
    • ‘There are those who see that initial verbal gesture as politicking.’
    • ‘It has come to be thought of as a stinging insult to tell a party here that it is electioneering and politicking with the peace process.’
    • ‘Because of this we have lost touch with those we are politicking about.’
    • ‘Why would he say that when he himself is politicking like a true politician with elections just around the corner?’
    • ‘Yet there's a point about age here as well as one about politicking.’
    • ‘Rather than actually helping to administer the country, they spend most of their time politicking to promote themselves.’
    • ‘She was doing politicking in the manner of populist anarchists.’
    • ‘But they can also burn up time, serve as a forum for politicking, and end up ratifying mediocre plans.’
    • ‘In an age of fear factor politicking, can the U.S. combat crime while keeping families together?’

Origin

Late Middle English from Old French politique ‘political’, via Latin from Greek politikos, from politēs ‘citizen’, from polis ‘city’.