Political
/pəˈlɪt.ɪ.kəl/noun
Relating to government, public affairs, or the activities of power and authority.
Did you know?Political comes from Greek **politikós**, meaning “of the city,” ultimately tied to **polis** — the same root behind words like metropolis and police, all circling the ancient idea of organized civic power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pele-
“to fill, to be crowded”
Ancient Greek
Greek
pólis
“city; city-state”
Ancient Greek
Greek
politikós
“of citizens or public life; civic”
Late Latin
Latin
politicus
“political; of the state”
Old French
Old French
politique
“political; public, civic”
14th-15th Century
English
political
“relating to government or public affairs”
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