politics
/ˈpɒlɪtɪks
/plural noun
1 [treated as singular or plural] The activities associated with the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power: the party quickly gained influence in French politics thereafter he dropped out of active politics...
- My background was in retail and accounting, but I'd always been active in politics and local government and the public and private sector.
- He took an active interest in politics and was closely associated with the Fine Gael party for which he was a major fund raiser.
- The major parties have taken politics and government away from the public!
Synonyms
government, local government, affairs of state, public affairs, diplomacy, party politics
1.1The activities of governments concerning the political relations between states: in the conduct of global politics, economic status must be backed by military capacity...
- Global economics depends on that kind of cooperation; global politics builds on it.
- What about the relation between cosmology and global politics?
- They have no idea how to intervene politically in global politics.
1.2The academic study of government and the state: [as modifier]: a politics lecturer...
- At 23, he is on the verge of completing a degree in history, politics and social studies.
- Era finishes her exams next month and has set her heart on going to Oxford University to study philosophy, politics and economics.
- He also lived in Buenos Aires before heading off to Oxford to study politics, philosophy and economics.
Synonyms
political science, civics, statecraft, statesmanship
rare polity
1.3A particular set of political beliefs or principles: people do not buy their paper purely for its politics...
- I regret that those friendships were forged on bonds made not of trust and care, but of politics and beliefs.
- The authors, however, are hostile to anything that smacks of principled working class politics.
- If we do not change our policies and politics, it will be devastating to all of us worldwide.
Synonyms
political views/beliefs/leanings/sympathies, party politics, political alliance
1.4 (often the politics of) The principles relating to or inherent in a sphere or activity, especially when concerned with power and status: the politics of gender...
- It would be ideal to keep communal forces out of politics and power, he added.
- Although steam and not radiation was to blame, the accident illustrates the contradictions of the politics of nuclear power.
- It would stretch credibility to see this as a comment on sexual power or the politics of penetration.
Synonyms
power struggle, manipulation, machination(s), manoeuvring, jockeying for position, wheeler-dealing, machiavellianism, opportunism, realpolitik
2Activities aimed at improving someone’s status or increasing power within an organization: yet another discussion of office politics and personalities...
- But his good work was nipped due to power hungry petty politics in sport, which is the bane in most sport bodies, here.
- Furthermore, Madam Clarkson should be commended for keeping the office above politics.
- Take Silver Owl's advice and never get involved in politics of any kind, by which she really means office politics and ideologies.
Phrases
play politics