politics politics /ˈpɑːləˌtɪks/

noun

1. () Social relations involving intrigue to gain authority or power  ( political relation , politics )
   social relations involving intrigue to gain authority or power
    Office politics is often counterproductive
   office politics is often counterproductive
   
2. () (government) the study of government of states and other political units  ( government , political science , politics )
   (government) the study of government of states and other political units
    The college offers a course in politics and international relations
   The college offers a course in politics and international relations
   
3. () The profession devoted to governing and to political affairs  ( politics )
   the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs
     The politician delivered a powerful speech on the current state of politics.
   The politician delivered a powerful speech on the current state of politics.
   
4. () The opinion you hold with respect to political questions  ( political sympathies , politics )
   the opinion you hold with respect to political questions
   
5. The activities and affairs involved in managing a state or a government  ( politics )
   the activities and affairs involved in managing a state or a government
    Unemployment dominated the politics of the inter-war years
   unemployment dominated the politics of the inter-war years
    Government agencies multiplied beyond the control of representative politics
   government agencies multiplied beyond the control of representative politics
   

 politic politic /ˈpɑːləˌtɪk/

adjective

1. () Marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness  ( politic )
   marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness
    It is neither polite nor politic to get into other people's quarrels
   it is neither polite nor politic to get into other people's quarrels
    A politic decision
   a politic decision
    A politic manager
   a politic manager
    A politic old scoundrel
   a politic old scoundrel
    A shrewd and politic reply
   a shrewd and politic reply
   
2. Smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication  ( bland , politic , suave , smooth )
   smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication
    He was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage
   he was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage
    The manager pacified the customer with a smooth apology for the error
   the manager pacified the customer with a smooth apology for the error