politics

politics — noun

1. the work, arguments, and decisions connected with running a country or influenci

1.nounB1
Definition

the work, arguments, and decisions connected with running a country or influencing how it is run.

Example

City politics changed after the mayor lost support in three districts.

At dinner, Grandma asked everyone to stop talking about politics.

talk about politics

Common collocations
  • city politics
  • local politics
  • national politics
  • talk about politics
Synonyms
  • government

    names the people or system in power more than the activity around it

  • public affairs

    more formal, especially in news and official contexts

  • political life

    broader and can also include a person's career

Grammar Patterns

talk about politics

politics in + place

interested in politics

Usage Note

Often appears with words naming place or level, such as local politics, city politics, or national politics. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is the field of public power itself, not one person's career in it.

Common Mistakes

The school changed its politics on phones.
The school changed its policy on phones.
politics is about public power or views; policy is a plan or rule.

2. the job or career of trying to gain and use power in government.

2.nounB2
Definition

the job or career of trying to gain and use power in government.

Example

Nina went into politics after ten years of work in local schools.

go into politics

His brother left banking because he wanted a career in politics.

career in politics

Common collocations
  • go into politics
  • career in politics
  • stay in politics
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

go into politics

career in politics

stay in politics

Usage Note

Common in patterns such as go into politics, career in politics, and stay in politics. Distinguish from sense 1: this use is about doing political work as your own profession.

Common Mistakes

She entered to politics at thirty.
She entered politics at thirty.
enter is used directly before the noun, without to.

3. the school or university subject about how governments work and how public decis

3.nounB2
Definition

the school or university subject about how governments work and how public decisions are made.

Example

Mei studies politics at university and hopes to report on elections.

study politics

Our teacher linked politics with history, law, and the news.

Common collocations
  • study politics
  • politics course
  • teach politics
Synonyms
  • political science

    common university term, especially in American English

  • government

    can name a school subject, but often sounds narrower

  • civics

    usually focuses more on citizens' rights and duties

Grammar Patterns

study politics

politics course

teach politics

Usage Note

Most natural after study, teach, read, or a word like course or class. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is the subject you learn, not public events themselves.

Common Mistakes

My sister studies politic at college.
My sister studies politics at college.
the subject name is politics, not politic.

4. a person's beliefs about laws, leaders, and how national power should be used.

4.nounB2
Definition

a person's beliefs about laws, leaders, and how national power should be used.

Example

Her politics grew more conservative after she started a small business.

The interview showed that Marco's politics are closer to the center.

politics are + adjective

Common collocations
  • her politics
  • liberal politics
  • conservative politics
  • politics are left-wing
Synonyms
  • views

    very general and not only about politics

  • beliefs

    stresses what a person thinks is right or true

  • ideology

    more formal and often describes a larger system of ideas

Grammar Patterns

someone's politics

politics are + adjective

politics move to the left or right

Usage Note

Often follows a possessive, as in her politics or the senator's politics. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about one person's views, not political activity in general.

Common Mistakes

His politics is liberal.
His politics are liberal.
when it means a person's views, politics often takes a plural verb.

5. the hidden struggle over who has influence inside a group, workplace, or organiz

5.nounB2
Definition

the hidden struggle over who has influence inside a group, workplace, or organization.

Example

Office politics kept the best nurse from getting the team leader job.

office politics

The club's politics became ugly after two friends fought for control.

Common collocations
  • office politics
  • campus politics
  • club politics
  • family business politics
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

office politics

campus politics

politics inside + group

Usage Note

Usually appears with a word naming the group or place, especially office politics or campus politics. This sense is often negative and focuses on internal power games, unlike sense 1 about public government.

Common Mistakes

There was a lot of policy in the office.
There was a lot of politics in the office.
this sense is about power relationships inside a group, not formal rules.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, politics is the best word for the public struggle and decision-making around power, leaders, laws, and the direction of a country. Government names the official system or the people in charge, so it is more about the institution than the activity around it. Policy means one chosen plan or line of action, not the wider fight around that plan. Public affairs is more formal and often appears in news or business English. Political life is broader and can include a person's career as well as public debate. Compare: The government announced a new tax policy, but the politics around it stayed bitter. She follows public affairs closely, yet she does not want a life in politics.

politics ↗government ↗policy ↗public affairspolitical life

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • in politics

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

'Politics' goes back to Greek words built on polis, meaning 'city' or 'state'. Greek politika referred to public matters and the running of a community. The word passed through Latin and then French before entering English. Because of that history, politics still carries the idea of managing public life, fighting for power, and deciding how a state should be directed. Later uses widened from national government to political study, personal beliefs, and even power struggles inside smaller groups.