I. pəˈlid.]ə̇kəl, pōˈ-, -it], ]ēk-, in rapid speech ˈpli-\ adjective
Etymology: Latin politic us political + English -al
1.
a. : of or relating to government, a government, or the conduct of governmental affairs
b. : of or relating to matters of government as distinguished from matters of law
political sovereignty
political recognition of a new nation
— compare legal 3a
c. : engaged in civil as distinguished from military functions
a political officer
— see political agent
d. : of, relating to, or concerned with the making as distinguished from the administration of governmental policy
2. archaic : politic 2
whether it would be political to interfere — James Mill
3.
a. : of, relating to, or concerned with politics
b. : of, relating to, or involved in party politics
political activity
political party
— compare administrative , nonpartisan
4. : organized in governmental terms — see political unit
II. noun
( -s )
: one associated with politics ; especially : political prisoner
hundreds of politicals … who had escaped from a concentration camp — Anthony West