DictionarypoliticGovernment and public affairs
adjective

politic

Relating to government or the organization of society.

The essay considers the health of the body politic.

Etymology

The Greek adjective concerns citizens and the affairs of a city or state. This sense preserves the direct connection with organized public life.

More examples

  • The old text distinguishes private duties from politic responsibilities.
  • The phrase body politic refers to society as an organized whole.
  • The charter used politic in describing the community’s public organization.

Forms

politic

Similar words

political
Political is the usual modern adjective; politic survives in this sense especially in body politic.
civic
Civic relates to a community or its citizens; politic here concerns organized public society.