Definition of politics | Collins English Dictionary

politics (ˈpɒlɪtɪks)

(functioning as singular) the practice or study of the art and science of forming, directing, and administrating states and other political units; the art and science of government; political science
(functioning as singular) the complex or aggregate of relationships of people in society, esp those relationships involving authority or power
(functioning as plural) political activities or affairs ⇒ party politics
(functioning as singular) the business or profession of politics
(functioning as singular or plural) any activity concerned with the acquisition of power, gaining one's own ends, etc ⇒ company politics are frequently vicious
(functioning as plural) opinions, principles, sympathies, etc, with respect to politics ⇒ his conservative politics
(functioning as plural)
1. the policy-formulating aspects of government as distinguished from the administrative, or legal
2. the civil functions of government as distinguished from the military

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= affairs of state government, government policy, public affairs, civics,

= political beliefs party politics, political allegiances political leanings political sympathies

"Politics is the art of the possible" Prince Otto von Bismarck
"A week is a long time in politics" Harold Wilson
"Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable" John Kenneth Galbraith
"Politics...has always been the systematic organisation of hatreds" Henry Brooks Adams
"Practical politics consists in ignoring facts" Henry Brooks Adams
"In politics the middle way is none at all" John Adams
"In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly" Samuel Taylor Coleridge
"There is a holy mistaken zeal in politics as well as in religion. By persuading others, we convince ourselves" Junius
"Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed" Mao Tse-tung
"The argument of the broken window pane is the most valuable argument in modern politics" Emmeline Pankhurst
"Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary" Robert Louis Stevenson
"Most schemes of political improvement are very laughable things" Samuel Johnson
"politics: a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage" Ambrose Bierce
"Politics makes strange bedfellows"

British English: politics Politics is the actions or activities concerned with achieving and using power in a country or organization.He was involved in local politics.ˈpɒlɪtɪks NOUN He was involved in local politics.
Spanish: política nf
French: politique nf
German: Politik nf
Chinese: 政治 n
Arabic: عِلْمُ السِّياسَة n
Portuguese: política nf
Russian: политика nf
Croatian: politika nf
Czech: politika nf
Danish: politik nutr
Dutch: politiek nf
Finnish: politiikka n
Greek: πολιτική nf
Italian: politica nf
Japanese: 政治 n
Korean: 정치학 npl
Norwegian: politikk nm
Polish: polityka nf
Brazilian Portuguese: política nf
European Spanish: política nf
Swedish: politik nutr
Thai: หลักการและข้อคิดเห็นทางการเมือง npl
Turkish: politika npl
Vietnamese: chính trị n

She doesn't have any interest in politics ; she's far too self-indulgent.
Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
At Makerere University I was more into student politics than writing.
New Scientist (2004)
I think its time for both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to reflect whether they are doing politics any real service.
Irish Times (2002)
In an increasingly anti-political age, perhaps gesture politics is the only politics that can get through to people.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
He had grown up in an atmosphere equally rich in poetry and politics.
John Baxter, DE NIRO: A Biography (2002)