political

Etymology

politic + -al

adj

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.
   In an era when political leaders promise deliverance from decline through America’s purported preeminence in scientific research, the news that science is in deep trouble in the United States has been as unwelcome as a diagnosis of leukemia following the loss of health insurance. 2012-01, Philip E. Mirowski, “Harms to Health from the Pursuit of Profits”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 87
   That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past. November 7, 2012, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times
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. (derogatory) 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.

noun

1. A political agent or officer.
   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. 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 265
2. A publication focusing on politics.