political

The word “political” means relating to government, politics, or the exercise of public power. In plain terms, relating to government and public affairs, or to internal power games.

“Political” is pronounced puh-LIHT-ih-kuhl (/pəˈlɪt.ɪ.kəl/ in IPA).

Here is “political” used in a sentence: “The scandal had serious political consequences for the party.”

Words with a similar meaning to “political” include politic.

The opposite of “political” — its antonyms — are nonpolitical and non-political.

“Political” is an adjective.

“Political” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Political” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to government, politics, or the exercise of public power.

Politics is the noun — the activities, debates, and systems through which people govern and share power. Political is the adjective that describes anything relating to those activities, such as a political party or a political decision. In short, politics is the thing itself, while political describes something connected to it.

Elections, government budgets, new laws, and party campaigns are clearly political, because they involve government and the exercise of public power. So are debates over taxes, immigration, or healthcare policy. Even a workplace or club can be called political when people compete for influence and control within it.

Yes. A subject is non-political when it has no real connection to government, parties, or public power — such as the weather, a maths formula, or a family recipe. That said, almost any topic can become political once people start arguing over how it should be governed, funded, or regulated.

It is neutral in itself, simply meaning 'relating to politics or government.' Context sets the tone. Calling someone politically engaged can be praise, while saying a decision was 'just political' often implies it was self-serving rather than principled. The word takes its colour from how and where it is used.