realpolitik

or Re·al·po·li·tik

[ rey-ahl-poh-li-teek, ree- ]
See synonyms for realpolitik on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. political realism or practical politics, especially policy based on power rather than on ideals.

Origin of realpolitik

1
First recorded in 1910–15; from German, equivalent to real real1 + Politik “politics, policy”; see politic

Other words from realpolitik

  • re·al·po·li·tik·er [rey-ahl-poh-lee-ti-ker, ree-], /reɪˈɑl poʊˌli tɪ kər, ri-/, noun

Words Nearby realpolitik

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use realpolitik in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for realpolitik

realpolitik

/ (reɪˈɑːlpɒlɪˈtiːk) /


noun
  1. a ruthlessly realistic and opportunist approach to statesmanship, rather than a moralistic one, esp as exemplified by Bismarck

Origin of realpolitik

1
C19: German: politics of realism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for realpolitik

realpolitik

[ (ray-ahl-poh-li-teek) ]


Governmental policies based on hard, practical considerations rather than on moral or idealistic concerns. Realpolitik is German for “the politics of reality” and is often applied to the policies of nations that consider only their own interests in dealing with other countries.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.