Word
politico
Phoneticspoliti·co
US/pəˈɫɪtɪˌkoʊ/
UK/pəlˈɪtɪkˌəʊ/
Definition
n. a person who is very involved in politics, especially as a career. It is a casual and often slightly negative way to describe a politician.
n. a person professionally involved in politics, especially a politician or a political strategist. Often carries a derogatory or cynical connotation, implying a preoccupation with political maneuvering over public service.
Examples
“The local politicos are busy preparing for the upcoming election.”
“After the scandal broke, every politico in the city tried to distance themselves from the mayor's office.”
“The gala was crowded with ambitious politicos and lobbyists, all hoping to secure a few minutes of face time with the newly appointed committee chair.”
Examples
simple
“The local politicos are busy preparing for the upcoming election.”
contextual
“After the scandal broke, every politico in the city tried to distance themselves from the mayor's office.”
complex
“The gala was crowded with ambitious politicos and lobbyists, all hoping to secure a few minutes of face time with the newly appointed committee chair.”
Usage
Informal in register; frequently used in journalistic contexts to imply a degree of cynicism.
Real-World Examples
“At the same time politicos in Berlin are debating how long he has in the job.” Etymology
From Italian politico or Spanish político.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/politico