politic

adjective

pol·​i·​tic ˈpä-lə-ˌtik 

1

: political

2

: characterized by shrewdness in managing, contriving, or dealing

3

: sagacious in promoting a policy

4

: shrewdly tactful

Did you know?

Politic behavior in class always requires a respectful attitude toward your teacher. It's never politic to ask for a raise when your boss is in a terrible mood. And once teenagers learn to drive, they quickly learn the politic way to ask for the car—that is, whatever gets the keys without upsetting the parents. As you can see, politic can be used for many situations that have nothing to do with public politics.

Synonyms

• diplomatic
• tactful

Choose the Right Synonym for politic

expedient, politic, advisable mean dictated by practical or prudent motives.

expedient usually implies what is immediately advantageous without regard for ethics or consistent principles.

a politically expedient decision

politic stresses judiciousness and tactical value but usually implies some lack of candor or sincerity.

a politic show of interest

advisable applies to what is practical, prudent, or advantageous but lacks the derogatory implication of expedient and politic.

sometimes it's advisable to say nothing

suave, urbane, diplomatic, bland, smooth, politic mean pleasantly tactful and well-mannered.

suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

Examples of politic in a Sentence

It would not be politic to ignore them.

the actor is politic in discussing the aborted film project, being content to say that there were “creative differences”

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet, while activist evangelical women worked with these groups, Schlafly’s Catholicism limited her ability to reach evangelicals who were more ambivalent about politic involvement. —Emily Suzanne Johnson / Made By History, TIME, 3 June 2024

That doesn’t always gel with the sardonic remove the writers built into their material, nor the show’s prescient awareness of the sardonic tango of showbiz and politic power, personal branding and the possibility for genuinely populist adoration by those craving relief from being ignored. —Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 4 Feb. 2022

Masks have become a hot-button politic issue during the pandemic, particularly in the U.S. Where they are worn is largely based on which state governors choose to enact mandatory laws around them, though this new trend of presidential merch masks takes things to a new level. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2020

Austin, the retired general with the little flag pin on his suit lapel, was the more politic witness. —Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English politik, pollitique "of spiritual or secular governance, political, sagacious, prudent," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French politique "of the state, political, of the regulation of social behavior," borrowed from Latin polīticus "of civil government, political" (Medieval Latin, "judicious, prudent"), borrowed from Greek polītikós "of citizens, civic, made up of citizens, of a statesman, of a state, political, public," from polī́tēs "citizen, freeman" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at police entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing politic

• body politic
• the body politic

Kids Definition

politic

adjective

pol·​i·​tic ˈpäl-ə-ˌtik 

: wise especially in dealing with others or in carrying out a policy