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realpolitik - 4 dictionary results

re⋅al⋅po⋅li⋅tik

[rey-ahl-poh-li-teek, ree-]
–noun
political realism or practical politics, esp. policy based on power rather than on ideals.
Also, Re⋅al⋅po⋅li⋅tik.


Origin:
1910–15; < G, equiv. to real real 1 + Politik politics, policy; see politic


re⋅al⋅po⋅li⋅tik⋅er, [rey-ahl-poh-lee-ti-ker, ree-] , noun
re·al·po·li·tik   (rā-äl'pō'lĭ-tēk')   
n.  A usually expansionist national policy having as its sole principle advancement of the national interest.

[German : real, practical (from Late Latin reālis, real; see real1) + Politik, politics (from French politique, political, policy; see politic).]
re·al'po'li·tik'er n.

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.


realpolitik 
1914, from Ger., lit. "practical politics."
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