Definition of politic Politic

/pɑˈlʌtɪˌk/ - [palutik] - pol•i•tic

We found 12 definitions of politic from 5 different sources.

What does politic mean?

Adjective
politic - smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication; "he was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage"; "the manager pacified the customer with a smooth apology for the error"
		smooth, suave, bland
		diplomatical, diplomatic using or marked by tact in dealing with sensitive matters or people; "the hostess averted a confrontation with a diplomatic chenage of subject"
politic - marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness; "it is neither polite nor politic to get into other people's quarrels"; "a politic decision"; "a politic manager"; "a politic old scoundrel"; "a shrewd and politic reply"
		impolitic not politic; "an impolitic approach to a sensitive issue"
		diplomatical, diplomatic using or marked by tact in dealing with sensitive matters or people; "the hostess averted a confrontation with a diplomatic chenage of subject"
		expedient serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when mercy was expedient"

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politic (a.)
Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government; political; as, the body politic. See under Body.
politic (a.)
Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; -- said of things; as, a politic treaty.
politic (a.)
Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; -- said of persons.
politic (n.)
A politician.

politic
pōl′i-tik, adj. pertaining to policy: well-devised: judicious in management: skilled in political affairs: prudent: discreet: cunning: (Shak.) concerned with politics.—adj. Polit′ical, pertaining to polity or government: pertaining to nations, or to parties in a nation who differ in their views of how it ought to be governed: derived from government.—adv. Polit′ically.—ns. Polit′icaster (Milt.), a petty politician; Politic′ian, one versed in or devoted to politics: a man of artifice and cunning.—adj. (Milt.) politic.—adv. Pol′iticly.—n.sing. Pol′itics, the art or science of government: the management of a political party: political affairs or opinions.—adj. Pol′itique (Bacon), political, civil.—n. Pol′ity, the constitution of the government of a state or an institution: civil constitution: a body of people arranged under a system of government.—Political economy, the science which treats of the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth; Political science, the science or study of government, as to its principles, aims, methods, &c.—Body politic, the whole body of a people, as constituting a state. [Fr. politique—Gr. politikos—politēs, a citizen.]