political
pronunciation
How to pronounce political in British English:
UK [pəˈlɪtɪkl]
How to pronounce political in American English:
US [pəˈlɪtɪkl]
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- Adjective:
- involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
- of or relating to your views about social relationships involving authority or power
- of or relating to the profession of governing
Word Origin
- 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."