politic
politic Lexical Profile
politic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Showing practical wisdom, prudence, and tact in managing affairs or dealing with people; diplomatic and expedient.
"She judged it more politic to remain silent during the heated board meeting than to take sides prematurely."
Relating to citizens, the state, or civil government (now chiefly used postpositively in the phrase 'body politic').
"Open and honest public debate is essential to the health of the body politic."
• verb
North American To engage in political activity, campaigning, or self-serving maneuvering for influence and advantage.
"Several candidates spent the entire weekend politicking across rural counties ahead of the primary election."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective, 'politic' usually means prudent, shrewd, or tactful (as in 'a politic decision'), whereas 'political' refers broadly to government and public affairs; the older sense of 'politic' meaning 'of the state' survives almost exclusively in the fixed phrase 'body politic'.
• Rhymes for politic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French politique, via Latin politicus from Ancient Greek politikos ('of citizens or the state'), derived from polites ('citizen') and polis ('city').