definition of politic by The Free Dictionary

title

.

pol·i·tic

(pŏl′ĭ-tĭk)adj.

Showing sound or pragmatic judgment; prudent; judicious: found it politic not to mention his youthful indiscretions.

[Middle English

politik

, from Old French

politique

, from Latin

polīticus

,

political

, from Greek

polītikos

, from

polītēs

,

citizen

, from

polis

,

city

; see

pelə-

in

Indo-European roots

.]

pol′i·tic·ly adv.

politic

(ˈpɒlɪtɪk) adj

1. artful or shrewd; ingenious: a politic manager.

2. crafty or unscrupulous; cunning: a politic old scoundrel.

3. sagacious, wise, or prudent, esp in statesmanship: a politic choice.

[C15: from Old French politique, from Latin polīticus concerning civil administration, from Greek politikos, from politēs citizen, from polis city]

ˈpoliticly adv

pol•i•tic

(ˈpɒl ɪ tɪk)

adj.

1. shrewd or prudent in practical matters; tactful; diplomatic.

2. contrived in a shrewd and practical way; expedient: a politic reply.

3. political: the body politic.

[1375–1425; late Middle English

politik

< Middle French

politique

< Latin

polīticus

< Greek

polītikós

civic =

polit(ēs)

citizen (see

polity

) +

-ikos -ic

]

pol′i•tic•ly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	politic - marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness; "it is neither polite nor politic to get into other people's quarrels"; "a politic decision"; "a politic manager"; "a politic old scoundrel"; "a shrewd and politic reply"diplomatical , diplomatic - using or marked by tact in dealing with sensitive matters or people; "the hostess averted a confrontation with a diplomatic chenage of subject" impolitic - not politic; "an impolitic approach to a sensitive issue"
	2.	politic - smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication; "he was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage"; "the manager pacified the customer with a smooth apology for the error"diplomatical , diplomatic - using or marked by tact in dealing with sensitive matters or people; "the hostess averted a confrontation with a diplomatic chenage of subject"

politic

adjective wise, diplomatic, sensible, discreet, prudent, advisable, expedient, judicious, tactful, sagacious, in your best interests Many people found it politic to change their allegiance.

politic

adjective

Showing sensitivity and skill in dealing with others:

Translations

politic

[ˈpɒlɪtɪk] adj

(=

sensible

) →

judicieux/euse

it would be politic to ... →

il serait judicieux de ...

politic

adj

→

klug

;

it would be politic to apologize

→

es wäre (taktisch) klug, sich zu entschuldigen

;

he tended to do what was politic rather than that which was proper

→

er machte eher (das), was klug or günstig war, als das, was recht gewesen wäre



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