Word
politician
Phoneticspoliti·cian
US/ˌpɑɫəˈtɪʃən/
UK/pˌɒlɪtˈɪʃən/
Definitions
01government official
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. a person whose job is in politics, especially someone who has been elected to a government position.
n. an individual professionally engaged in politics, specifically one who holds or seeks an elected or appointed office in government.
“The local politician promised to build a new park if she won the election.”
“The veteran politician spent the afternoon canvassing in the suburbs, hoping to secure the swing votes necessary for a narrow victory.”
Synonyms
02a person skilled at social maneuvering
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. someone who is very good at using their influence or acting in a clever way to get what they want at work.
n. a person who acts in a manipulative or crafty manner to gain advantage within an organisation or social group.
“He is quite a politician in the office and always knows who to talk to for a promotion.”
“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.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “politician” in context.
Verb
01. become a politician
“After working as a lawyer for ten years, she decided to become a politician.”
verb + noun
02. elect a politician
“The citizens will elect a politician who promises to improve the local schools.”
verb + noun
03. trust a politician
“Many people find it difficult to trust a politician during an election year.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. career politician
“Critics argue that a career politician may lose touch with the needs of ordinary people.”
adj + noun
05. honest politician
“It is refreshing to meet an honest politician who admits when they have made a mistake.”
adj + noun
06. local politician
“We invited a local politician to speak at our community meeting about the new park.”
adj + noun
07. prominent politician
“Several prominent politicians attended the international climate summit.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. politician interviewed the journalist
“The politician interviewed the journalist to clarify his stance on the new tax law.”
noun + verb
Etymology
From politic + -ian.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/politician