1
: a person experienced in the art or science of government
especially : one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government
2
a
: a person engaged in party politics as a profession
b
often disparaging : a person primarily interested in political office for selfish or other narrow usually short-sighted reasons

Examples of politician in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the Amazon and Blue Origin founder argues that some politicians are blaming the wrong culprit. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026 Local politician Mohamed Mustafa described the divisions as predating the summer's border crisis. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 John Wayne and Gary Cooper, like Ken-san, often played anachronistic loners from a disappearing Arcadia that was being destroyed by hard-nosed modernizers—greedy bankers, railway owners, big-city politicians. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Only two cosmonauts were originally supposed to fly on this mission, but Soviet politicians pressured the Russian space program to add one more. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for politician

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of politician was in 1589

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Politician.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politician. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

politician

noun
: a person who takes an active part in party politics or in government business
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster