parliamentary: He used his influence to make sure she was not selected as a parliamentary candidate.
po|li ti|cal asy |lum N‑UNCOUNT Political asylum is the right to live in a foreign country and is given by the government of that country to people who have to leave their own country for political reasons. □ …a university teacher who is seeking political asylum in Britain.
po|li ti|cal cor|re ct|ness N‑UNCOUNT Political correctness is the attitude or policy of being extremely careful not to offend or upset any group of people in society who have a disadvantage, or who have been treated differently because of their sex, race, or disability.
po|li ti|cal eco no|my N‑UNCOUNT Political economy is the study of the way in which a government influences or organizes a nation's wealth.
po|li ti|cal in|cor|re ct|ness N‑UNCOUNT Political incorrectness is the attitude or policy shown by someone who does not care if they offend or upset any group of people in society who have a disadvantage, or who have been treated differently because of their sex, race, or disability.
po|li ti|cal|ly cor|re ct ADJ If you say that someone is politically correct , you mean that they are extremely careful not to offend or upset any group of people in society who have a disadvantage, or who have been treated differently because of their sex, race, or disability. ● N‑PLURAL The politically correct are people who are politically correct.
po|li ti|cal|ly in|cor|re ct ADJ If you say that someone is politically incorrect , you mean that they do not care if they offend or upset other people in society, for example with their attitudes towards sex, race, or disability. □ Gershwin's lyrics would today probably be deemed politically incorrect. ● N‑PLURAL The politically incorrect are people who are politically incorrect.
po|li ti|cal pri s|on|er (political prisoners ) N‑COUNT A political prisoner is someone who has been imprisoned for criticizing or disagreeing with their own government.
po|li ti|cal sci |ence N‑UNCOUNT Political science is the study of the ways in which political power is acquired and used in a country.
po|li ti|cal sci |en|tist (political scientists ) N‑COUNT A political scientist is someone who studies, writes, or lectures about political science.
poli|ti|cian ◆◆◇ /pɒ l I t I ʃ ə n/ (politicians ) N‑COUNT A politician is a person whose job is in politics, especially a member of parliament or congress. □ They have arrested a number of leading opposition politicians. SYNONYMS politician NOUN 1
statesman: Hamilton is a great statesman and political thinker.
MP: Several Conservative MPs have voted against the government.
legislator: …an attempt to get U.S. legislators to change the system.
po|liti|cize /pəl I t I sa I z/ (politicizes , politicizing , politicized ) in BRIT, also use politicise VERB If you politicize someone or something, you make them more interested in politics or more involved with politics. □ [V n] …ideas which might politicize the labouring classes. □ [V n] Some feminists had attempted to politicize personal life. ● po|liti|cized ADJ □ The data that's being used to fault American education is highly politicized. ● po|liti|ci|za|tion /pəl I t I sa I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ There has been increasing politicization of the civil service.
poli|tick|ing /pɒ l I t I k I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT If you describe someone's political activity as politicking , you think that they are engaged in it to gain votes or personal advantage for themselves. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The politicking at Westminster is extremely intense.
po|liti|co /pəl I t I koʊ/ (politicos ) N‑COUNT You can describe a politician as a politico , especially if you do not like them or approve of what they do. [DISAPPROVAL ]
politico- /pəl I t I koʊ-/ COMB [ADJ n] Politico- is added to adjectives to form other adjectives that describe something as being both political and the other thing that is mentioned. □ …the capitalist politico-economic system.
poli|tics ◆◆◇ /pɒ l I t I ks/
1 N‑PLURAL Politics are the actions or activities concerned with achieving and using power in a country or society. The verb that follows politics may be either singular or plural. □ The key question in British politics was how long the prime minister could survive. □ [+ of ] …a crucial watershed in the politics of the German right. □ Politics is by no means the only arena in which women are excelling.
2 → see also party politics
3 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] Your politics are your beliefs about how a country ought to be governed. □ My politics are well to the left of centre.
4 N‑UNCOUNT Politics is the study of the ways in which countries are governed. □ He began studying politics and medieval history. □ …young politics graduates.
5 N‑PLURAL Politics can be used to talk about the ways that power is shared in an organization and the ways it is affected by personal relationships between people who work together. The verb that follows politics may be either singular or plural. □ You need to understand how office politics influence the working environment.
pol|ity /pɒ l I ti/ (polities ) N‑COUNT A polity is an organized society, such as a nation, city, or church, together with its government and administration. [FORMAL ] □ …the role of religious belief in a democratic polity.
pol|ka /pɒ lkə, [AM ] poʊ lkə/ (polkas ) N‑COUNT A polka is a fast lively dance that was popular in the nineteenth century.
po l|ka dots The spelling polka-dot is also used, especially as a modifier. The word polka is usually pronounced /poʊ kə/ in American English when it is part of this compound. N‑PLURAL [oft N n] Polka dots are very small spots printed on a piece of cloth. □ …a yellow bikini with polka dots. □ …a tight-fitting polka dot blouse.