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2 : characterized by shrewdness in managing, contriving, or dealing
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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
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.
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”
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Phil Helsel, NBC News, “Guns seized from Washington man said to be neo-Nazi leader prepping for ‘race war’,” 19 Oct. 2019 That included Erniece Winfield, who tried to politic for her son, Antoine Jr., to be drafted onto the Red Bulls.
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Andy Greder, Twin Cities, “For defensive end Carter Coughlin, life with Gophers is a family affair,” 4 Oct. 2019 Company executives may be too politic to say this, but there’s a reason WhatsApp must worry about lynch mobs in India and not in Brazil, Mexico and Spain.
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Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, “WhatsApp Gets a Bum Rap for an Indian Murder Epidemic,” 9 Aug. 2018 Clinton did not shy away from the politic drama that has followed her since the 2016 election.
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Alix Langone, Time, “Hillary Clinton Tells Students to Bridge the Political Divide With ‘Radical Empathy’ in Yale Class Day Speech,” 20 May 2018 But the professor’s words on Twitter were not nearly so politic.
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The Washington Post, AL.com, “California professor who called Barbara Bush racist won’t be punished,” 25 Apr. 2018 But the professor’s words on Twitter were not nearly so politic.
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Cleve R. Wootson Jr. And Susan Svrluga, Washington Post, “Fresno State says it can’t discipline the professor who called Barbara Bush an ‘amazing racist’,” 25 Apr. 2018 Japanese coming to Boston was the politic thing to do.
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Kathryn Tolbert, Washington Post, “The Japanese once ruled the Boston Marathon. A war bride’s son recalls the slurs.,” 15 Apr. 2018 Tupac spoke his mind and his politic skills were amazing.
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Michael Saponara, Billboard, “Lil Durk Talks Crafting ‘Just ‘Cause Y’all Waited,’ Leaving Def Jam & Possibly Doing an Entire Singing Album,” 11 Apr. 2018
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘politic.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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First Known Use of politic
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
History and Etymology for politic
Middle English politik, from Middle French politique, from Latin politicus, from Greek politikos, from politēs citizen — more at police entry 1
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Cite this Entry
“Politic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politic. Accessed 20 Mar. 2020.
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