I. ˈpäləˌtik adjective
Etymology: Middle English politik, from Middle French politique, from Latin politicus, from Greek politikos, from politēs citizen + -ikos -ic — more at police
1. : political
their superiors in politic and military virtues — Edmund Burke
he with all his people made all but one politic body — Philip Sidney
— see body politic
2. : characterized by shrewdness : skillfully contrived : expedient , judicious
this land was famously enrich'd with politic grave counsel — Shakespeare
neither polite nor politic to get into other people's quarrels — Ruth Park
so long as it was politic to profess loyalty — V.L.Parrington
3. : of, relating to, or having the nature of a constitutional as distinguished from a despotic government : constitutional
from … politic government the inhabitants were brought under tyranny — Thomas Washington
4. : sagacious in devising or promoting a policy : skillful or ingenious in statecraft : prudent in management : characterized by political skill and ingenuity
an astute and politic statesman
5. : exercising, manifesting, or proceeding from craft : artful in address or procedure : shrewdly tactful : cunning , worldly-wise
a politic answer
a politic move
a very politic adversary
Synonyms: see expedient , suave
II. noun
( -s )
1. archaic : politician
amongst statesmen and politics — Francis Bacon
2. obsolete : policy
this did not suit with popish politic — Richard Bentley †1742
3. obsolete : one that is indifferent toward religious matters : one concerned more with the affairs of the world than the religion
worldlings and depraved politics who are apt to condemn holy things — Francis Bacon