French word

politique

Pronunciation

IPA/politik/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpolitics

Example

La politique nationale évolue rapidement.

National politics is changing rapidly.

Illustration for politique (politics)

More examples

Les débats sur la politique étrangère ont animé la soirée.

Debates on foreign policy enlivened the evening.

Core concept

A system of public choices that sets common rules and directs shared power.

Common phrases

  • la politique nationale

    national politics

  • la politique étrangère

    foreign policy

  • la politique intérieure

    domestic politics

Similar words

gouvernement: The body or leaders that govern a country or region and carry out policy.
parti: A political group with shared aims that puts forward candidates.
état: A nation's structure and the system through which public power operates.
élection: A procedure in which voters choose representatives or officeholders.

Definition in French

La politique désigne les pratiques et les décisions publiques par lesquelles une société définit les règles communes et exerce l'autorité.

Word origin

Politique entered French from Latin politicus, whose Greek source politikos described matters concerning the polis and its citizens.

Usage tips

  • The common expressions faire de la politique and entrer en politique use de and en, not the English pattern do politics or enter politics.

Other meanings

  • policynoun
  • politicaladjective

Opposites

  • apolitismeapoliticismnoun
  • neutraliténeutralitynoun

Related words

  • politicienpoliticiannoun
  • politiserpoliticizeverb
  • politisationpoliticizationnoun

Word lists with this word