English Reference
noun

politician

n.
US /ˌpɑɫəˈtɪʃən/ UK /pˌɒlɪtˈɪʃən/ politi·cian UK spelling politician's, politician's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Law

    a person whose job is in politics, especially someone who has been elected to a government position.

    an individual professionally engaged in politics, specifically one who holds or seeks an elected or appointed office in government.

    Simple

    The local politician promised to build a new park if she won the election.

    In context

    The veteran politician spent the afternoon canvassing in the suburbs, hoping to secure the swing votes necessary for a narrow victory.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Informal

    someone who is very good at using their influence or acting in a clever way to get what they want at work.

    a person who acts in a manipulative or crafty manner to gain advantage within an organisation or social group.

    Simple

    He is quite a politician in the office and always knows who to talk to for a promotion.

    In context

    To survive in the corporate headquarters, one must be something of a politician, navigating the complex web of internal alliances and rivalries.

    Usage

    Often used with a negative or cynical tone to imply the person is insincere.

    schemerstrategist

From politic + -ian.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated