# politically

/ˈpɫɪtɪkɫi/ (US) · /pəlˈɪtɪkli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/politically
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. regarding politics

adverb · CEFR B2

in a way that relates to the government, political parties, or public affairs.

For teachers: with respect to government, political parties, or the state's administration.

- The two countries are very close economically but quite different politically.
- The decision was politically motivated, designed to appeal to rural voters ahead of the upcoming general election.

### 2. socially sensitive

adverb · CEFR B2

in a way that considers how people might be offended or how power is shared in society.

For teachers: relating to the social dynamics of power and the avoidance of causing offense to specific groups.

- It is important to speak politically when discussing sensitive social issues.
- The university sought to remain politically neutral during the protests to avoid alienating its diverse student body.

## Examples

- The two countries are politically very different.
- The mayor's decision was politically motivated to gain support before the upcoming election.
- While the proposal was economically sound, it proved to be politically impossible to implement given the strong opposition from local community leaders.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.