From politic + -al.

• (British) IPA: /pəˈlɪtɪkəl/
• (America, Canada) IPA: /pəˈlɪtɪkəl/, [pəˈlɪɾɪkəl], /pəˈlɪtəkəl/, [pəˈlɪɾəkəl],
• (Australia) IPA: /pəˈlɪtɪkəl/, /pəˈlɪɾɪkəl/

political

1. Concerning or relating to politics, the art and process of governing.

   Political principles are rarely absolute, as political logic holds an imperfect result by compromise is better than a theoretically perfect abstention from the political process in the opposition.

   • 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC ↗:

     As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.

2. Concerning a polity or its administrative components.

   Good political staff is hard to find, they may neither be ambitious and corrupted by power nor tempted by private sector careers.

3. (pejorative) Motivated, especially inappropriately, by political (electoral; or, more generally, power, standing, influence or conflict) calculation.

   “The Court invalidates Minnesota’s political apparel ban based on its inability to define the term ‘political'”

4. Of or relating to views about social relationships that involve power, standing, influence or conflict.
5. (of a person) Interested in politics.

• politic

• nonpolitical, non-political

• French: politique
• German: politisch
• Italian: politico
• Portuguese: político
• Russian: полити́ческий
• Spanish: político

• Portuguese: político
• Russian: полити́ческий

• Russian: полити́ческий

political (plural politicals)

1. A political agent or officer.
   • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 265:

     One such officer was Count Nikolai Ignatiev, a brilliant and ambitious political, who enjoyed the ear of the Tsar and burned to settle his country's scores with the British.

2. A publication focusing on politics.