# politics

/ˈpɑɫəˌtɪks/ (US) · /pˈɒlətˌɪks/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. government and state affairs

noun · CEFR B1

the activities and work involved in running a country, city, or government.

For teachers: the activities associated with the governance of a country or area, particularly the debate between parties having power.

- 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.

### 2. personal beliefs

noun · CEFR B2

your personal opinions about how a country should be governed.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. power struggles in a group

noun · CEFR B2

the way people in a workplace or group use their power to get what they want.

For teachers: the use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining power or status within a particular group or organization.

- 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.

### 4. social issues in media

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

social issues or beliefs that some people think do not belong in a specific conversation or story.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She decided to enter politics to help her local community.
- Office politics can sometimes make it difficult for talented employees to get the promotions they deserve.
- While the student was interested in the theory of government, he found the actual practice of party politics to be far more cynical than he had anticipated.

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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.