politics
C1Neutral to formal; common in academic, journalistic, and general discourse.
Definition
Meaning
The activities, actions, and policies used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence the government; the art or science of governing.
The opinions and activities one holds about how power should be distributed and how a society should be governed. It can also refer to the complex relationships and power dynamics within any organized group.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is usually treated as a singular noun when referring to the science, art, or profession of governing ('Politics is his passion'). It is often treated as plural when referring to a person's political views or activities ('His politics are quite conservative').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor differences in common collocations and party names (e.g., 'the Labour Party' vs. 'the Democratic Party'). The term 'politicking' is somewhat more common in US English.
Connotations
Both varieties share similar connotations. The word can carry negative connotations of manipulation and self-interest ('office politics', 'playing politics').
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the politics of [NOUN PHRASE] (e.g., the politics of climate change)[ADJECTIVE] politics (e.g., radical politics)politics is/are [ADJECTIVE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play politics (to act for personal gain rather than principle)”
- “the politics of the playground”
- “politics makes strange bedfellows”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to internal power struggles and relationship management within a company (e.g., 'Navigating office politics is crucial for promotion').
Academic
Refers to the systematic study of government, power, and political behavior (e.g., 'She is pursuing a degree in Politics').
Everyday
Refers to general discussions about governments, elections, and political parties (e.g., 'We avoid talking politics at family dinners').
Technical
In political science, used with precise modifiers (e.g., 'comparative politics', 'gender politics').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was accused of politicising the disaster.
- The minister politicked his way to the top.
American English
- They were accused of politicizing the tragedy.
- She spent years politicking behind the scenes.
adverb
British English
- The speech was politically astute.
- They are politically aligned.
American English
- He is politically active.
- The bill is politically motivated.
adjective
British English
- He made a highly political decision.
- The report was deemed too political.
American English
- It was a purely political move.
- She faced political pressure to resign.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is not interested in politics.
- We study politics in school.
- Local politics can affect community projects.
- She wants to have a career in politics.
- The politics of healthcare reform are incredibly complex.
- His personal politics often clash with the party's official stance.
- The internal politics of the committee stalled the initiative for months.
- Her analysis deftly separates the economic necessities from the pure identity politics at play.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'POLItician' discussing 'TICS' (small, often annoying creatures) – politics can feel like dealing with lots of small, complicated, and sometimes irritating details of power.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICS IS WAR / A GAME / A THEATRE (e.g., political battlefield, political maneuvering, political theatre).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'политика' as a general 'policy'. 'Foreign policy' is 'внешняя политика', but 'he is in politics' is 'он занимается политикой'. The plural form in English does not directly correlate with the Russian plural 'политики' (which means politicians).
Common Mistakes
- Using a plural verb for the academic field (e.g., 'Politics are interesting' – less common; 'Politics is interesting' is standard). Treating it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a politics' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'politics' used to refer to an academic discipline?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. Use singular verbs when referring to the science or activity of governing ('Politics is fascinating'). Use plural verbs when referring to someone's political beliefs or tactics ('His politics are questionable').
'Politics' is the broader process of gaining and exercising governance. 'Policy' is a specific course or principle of action proposed or adopted by an organization or individual.
Yes, it's commonly used to describe power structures and relationships in any organization, like a university or company (e.g., 'office politics').
It is an idiom meaning to act in a way that is designed to gain personal or partisan advantage, often instead of acting on principle or for the common good.
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