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Definition of politic - 5 dictionary results

pol⋅i⋅tic

  [pol-i-tik]
Use politic in a Sentence
–adjective
1. shrewd or prudent in practical matters; tactful; diplomatic.
2. contrived in a shrewd and practical way; expedient: a politic reply.
3. political: the body politic.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME politik < MF politique < L polīticus < Gk polītikós civic, equiv. to polt(ēs) citizen (see polity ) + -ikos -ic

Related forms:
pol⋅i⋅tic⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. astute, ingenius; wary, discreet. See diplomatic.

Antonyms:
1. imprudent; indiscreet, tactless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pol·i·tic   (pŏl'ĭ-tĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Using or marked by prudence, expedience, and shrewdness; artful.
  2. Using, displaying, or proceeding from policy; judicious: a politic decision.
  3. Crafty; cunning.

[Middle English politik, from Old French politique, from Latin polīticus, political, from Greek polītikos, from polītēs, citizen, from polis, city; see pelə-3 in Indo-European roots.]
pol'i·tic·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Politic

Pol"i*tic\, a. [L. politicus political, Gr. ? belonging to the citizens or to the state, fr.? citizen: cf. F. politique. See Police, and cf. ePolitical.]

1. Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government; political; as, the body politic. See under Body.

He with his people made all but one politic body. --Sir P. Sidney.

2. Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; -- said of things; as, a politic treaty. "Enrich'd with politic grave counsel." --Shak.

3. Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; -- said of persons.

Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy. --Shak.

Syn: Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary; artful; cunning.

Politic

Pol`i*tic\, n. A politician. [Archaic] --Bacon.

Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars. --Lowell.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : politic
Spanish: político,
German: politisch,
Japanese: 政治の
More Translations »

politic  (adj.)
1427, from M.Fr. politique (14c.) "political," from L. politicus "of citizens or the state, civil, civic," from Gk. politikos "of citizens or the state," from polites "citizen," from polis "city" (see policy (1)). Replaced in most adj. senses by political (1551). The verb meaning "to engage in political activity" is first recorded 1917, a back-formation from politics.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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