POLITICAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does political mean? 

• POLITICAL (adjective)
  The adjective POLITICAL has 3 senses:

1. involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

2. of or relating to your views about social relationships involving authority or power

3. of or relating to the profession of governing

  Familiarity information: POLITICAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POLITICAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

Context example:

political policy

Similar:

governmental (relating to or dealing with the affairs or structure of government or politics or the state)

policy-making (concerned with policy, not administration)

semipolitical (political in some (but not all) aspects)

Antonym:

nonpolitical (not political)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to your views about social relationships involving authority or power

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

political opinions

Pertainym:

politics (the opinion you hold with respect to political questions)

Derivation:

politics (the opinion you hold with respect to political questions)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of or relating to the profession of governing

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

political career

Pertainym:

politics (the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs)

Derivation:

politics (the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs)

 Context examples 

But because the matter is political my husband refuses to take me into his complete confidence.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am sufficiently behind the scenes to know the worth of political life.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

In the school of political projectors, I was but ill entertained; the professors appearing, in my judgment, wholly out of their senses, which is a scene that never fails to make me melancholy.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Or you may be getting involved with a political or humanitarian effort.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

His mother wished to interest him in political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to see him connected with some of the great men of the day.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

And while the Maya people survived beyond this period, their political and economic power was depleted.

(Scientists measure severity of drought during the Maya collapse, University of Cambridge)

But the lack of political response to a priority which affects every citizens reminds us of the debates and tragedies we've been through already.

(Health threats caused by mobile phone radiation, EUROPARL TV)

He was a huge man, the secretary, deep, broad, and tall, with a slow, heavy fashion of speech which had been his main asset in his political career.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A political unit, such as a city, town, or village, incorporated for local self-government.

(Municipality, NCI Thesaurus)

The political organization by which a state or nation is ruled.

(Government, NCI Thesaurus)