Word
politics
Phoneticspol·i·tics, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɑɫəˌtɪks/
UK/pˈɒlətˌɪks/
Definitions
01government and state affairs
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the activities and work involved in running a country, city, or government.
n. the activities associated with the governance of a country or area, particularly the debate between parties having power.
日本語:政治※
Español:política
“He decided to go into politics because he wanted to improve the local schools.”
“After years of working as a lawyer, she entered national politics and eventually ran for a seat in the parliament.”
Usage
Takes a singular verb when referring to the field of study or the general system of government.
Pitfall
Politics are a very difficult subject.
Politics is a very difficult subject.
When referring to the field of study or the general concept of government, 'politics' takes a singular verb.
Synonyms
02personal beliefs
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun
n. your personal opinions about how a country should be governed.
n. the set of political beliefs or principles held by an individual or a specific group.
“We are close friends even though our politics are very different.”
“His radical politics often brought him into conflict with the more conservative members of the local council.”
Usage
Often takes a plural verb when referring to an individual's specific set of opinions.
Synonyms
03power struggles in a group
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the way people in a workplace or group use their power to get what they want.
n. the use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining power or status within a particular group or organization.
日本語:政治※
“I left my last job because I was tired of all the office politics.”
“The internal politics of the department made it nearly impossible for new ideas to be implemented without causing an argument.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'office politics' to describe professional power dynamics.
Synonyms
04social issues in media
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal
n. social issues or beliefs that some people think do not belong in a specific conversation or story.
n. a modern, often pejorative reference to the inclusion of social or ideological themes in entertainment or non-political spaces.
“Some fans complained about the politics in the new superhero movie.”
“The reviewer argued that the game was ruined by the inclusion of modern politics that felt out of place in a fantasy setting.”
Teaching tip
In modern internet slang, this is often used by people who feel that social justice themes are being 'forced' into movies or games.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “politics” in context.
Verb
01. discuss politics
“We try to avoid discussing politics during family dinners to prevent arguments.”
verb + noun
02. enter politics
“After a successful career in law, she chose to enter politics.”
verb + noun
03. play politics
“Stop playing politics with people's lives and pass the healthcare bill.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. international politics
“The professor specializes in international politics and global trade relations.”
adj + noun
05. local politics
“She decided to get involved in local politics to improve the neighborhood parks.”
adj + noun
06. office politics
“He left his last job because he couldn't stand the constant office politics.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. career in politics
“He is considering a long-term career in politics starting at the city council.”
noun + prep + noun
08. politics aug
09. politics live
10. dominate the politics of
“Economic issues continue to dominate the politics of the region.”
11. go into politics
“She decided to go into politics to advocate for better education.”
12. keep out of politics
“The military was warned to keep out of politics during the election.”
Etymology
From the adjective politic, by analogy with Aristotle’s τά πολῑτῐκᾱ́ (tá polītĭkā́, “affairs of state”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Idioms
- 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
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/politics
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0