politics
The activities of the government, members of law-making organizations, or people who try to influence the way a country is governed
Joe is very active in left-wing politics.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
politics
noun (no plural)
1 the work and ideas that are connected with government:
Are you interested in politics?
2 the study of government:
She studied Politics at university.
Look at the notes at Congress, election and party.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
politics
pol‧i‧tics S2 W2 /ˈpɒlətɪks, ˈpɒlɪtɪks $ ˈpɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑politician, ↑politics, ↑politicization, ↑politicking, ↑politico; adjective: ↑political, ↑politicized, ↑apolitical, ↑politic; verb: ↑politicize; adverb: ↑politically]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Greek; Origin: politika (plural), from politikos; ⇨ ↑politic]
1. [U also + plural verb British English] ideas and activities relating to gaining and using power in a country, city etc ⇨ political, politician:
a good understanding of politics in China
modern American politics
Politics have always interested Anita.
national/local etc politics
Brooke’s been involved in city politics since college.
The president should stand above party politics (=working only for your political ↑party).
2. [uncountable] the profession of being a politician:
Flynn retired from politics in 1986.
Her father’s trying to enter politics.
Smith went into politics in his early twenties.
3. [plural] the activities of people who are concerned with gaining personal advantage within a group, organization etc:
I’m tired of dealing with all of the office politics.
Her art examines sexual politics (=how power is shared between men and women).
politics of
the politics of race and class at American universities
4. [plural] someone’s political beliefs and opinions:
I assume her politics must be fairly conservative.
5. [uncountable] especially British English the study of political power and systems of government SYN political science:
Tom is studying for a degree in politics.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + politics
▪ national politics Mark had always been keen to have a career in national politics.
▪ local politics Ann is very active in local politics.
▪ international politics The two superpowers that dominated international politics.
▪ world/global politics There was much going on in world politics at the time.
▪ domestic politics (=within a country) The war had a major impact on the country’s domestic politics.
▪ party politics (=trying to make your party successful) He believes that party politics has no place in local government.
▪ power politics (=attempting to get power by using or threatening to use force) The party argued that power politics would always lead to war.
■ phrases
▪ be involved in politics After university, he became involved in local politics.
▪ take part in politics Young people should be encouraged to take part in politics.
▪ be active in politics (=be involved in) I was very active in politics before I retired.
▪ interfere/meddle in politics He warned the army against interfering in politics.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ right-wing adjective a right-wing person or group wants low taxes, a strong army and police force, and the individual to be free from government interference as much as possible: right-wing political parties | Some of his supporters are very right-wing. | right-wing policies on gun control
▪ left-wing adjective a left-wing person or group wants the government to make society more equal by increasing taxes for rich people, and taking control of important industries and services: a left-wing newspaper | His views are very left-wing.
▪ green adjective [usually before noun] supporting policies and principles which will protect the environment: green politicians | the Green Party | The government is under pressure to improve its green credentials (=to seem more like it wants to protect the environment).
▪ radical adjective supporting political ideas that will involve great change: radical politicians | a radical economic reform programme
▪ liberal adjective supporting political ideas that will allow people to have greater freedom: They want the government to have a more liberal policy on drugs.
▪ moderate adjective having political opinions which are not extreme: People generally become more moderate as they get older. | The bill is supported by moderate Republicans.
▪ extreme adjective having political opinions which are considered to be very unreasonable by many people: His views on immigration are very extreme. | an extreme right-wing organization
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
politics
pol·it·ics [politics] [ˈpɒlətɪks] [ˈpɑːlətɪks] noun
1. uncountable + singular or plural verb the activities involved in getting and using power in public life, and being able to influence decisions that affect a country or a society
• party politics
• local politics
• He's thinking of going into politics (= trying to become a Member of Parliament, Congress, etc.)
• a major figure in British politics
2. uncountable + singular or plural verb (disapproving) matters concerned with getting or using power within a particular group or organization
• I don't want to get involved in office politics.
• the internal politics of the legal profession
• sexual politics (= concerning relationships of power between the sexes)
3. plural a person's political views or beliefs
• His politics are extreme.
4. uncountable = political science
• a degree in Politics
5. singular a system of political beliefs; a state of political affairs
• A politics of the future has to engage with new ideas.
Collocations:
Politics
Power
create/form/be the leader of a political party
gain/take/win/lose/regain control of Congress
start/spark/lead/be on the brink of a revolution
be engaged/locked in an internal power struggle
lead/form a rival/breakaway faction
seize/take control of the government/power
bring down/overthrow/topple the government/president/regime
abolish/overthrow/restore the monarchy
establish/install a military dictatorship/a stable government
be forced/removed/driven from office/power
resign/step down as party leader/an MP/president/prime minister
enter/retire from/return to political life
Political debate
spark/provoke a heated/hot/intense/lively debate
engage in/participate in/contribute to (the) political/public debate (on/over sth)
get involved in/feel excluded from the political process
launch/start/lead/spearhead a campaign/movement
join/be linked with the peace/anti-war/feminist/civil rights movement
criticize/speak out against/challenge/support the government
lobby/put pressure on the government (to do sth)
come under fire/pressure from opposition parties
Policy
call for/demand/propose/push for/advocate democratic/political/land reform(s)
formulate/implement domestic economic policy
change/influence/shape/have an impact on government/economic/public policy
be consistent with/be in line with/go against/be opposed to government policy
reform/restructure/modernize the tax system
privatize/improve/deliver/make cuts in public services
invest (heavily) in/spend sth on schools/education/public services/(the) infrastructure
nationalize the banks/the oil industry
promise/propose/deliver/give ($80 billion in/significant/substantial/massive) tax cuts
a/the budget is approved/ (especially NAmE) passed by parliament/congress
Making laws
have a majority in/have seats in Parliament/Congress/the Senate
propose/sponsor a bill/legislation/a resolution
introduce/bring in/draw up/draft/adopt/pass a bill/a law/legislation/measures
amend/repeal an act/a law/legislation
veto/vote against/oppose a bill/legislation/a measure/a proposal/a resolution
get/require/be decided by a majority vote
more collocations at economy, voting
Example Bank:
• As a churchman, he was accused of interfering in politics.
• Consensus politics places a high value on existing political institutions.
• He abandoned politics and went into business.
• He argued that it was not practical politics to abolish private schools.
• He used dirty politics to trash his opponent's record.
• His manners were as mild as his politics were extreme.
• I don't understand the politics of it all.
• I have always followed politics closely.
• In their world politics dominates everything.
• Let's not talk politics now.
• My personal politics are pretty simple.
• She was active in local politics for many years.
• The Democrats are simply engaging in partisan politics.
• The legislation has been driven by populist politics.
• They took the view that Casper was playing power politics with their jobs at stake.
• They went into politics in the hope of changing society.
• multiculturalism and the rise of identity politics
• reforms that are intended to reshape Italian politics
• the country's internal politics
• the issues which have dominated Irish politics
• the politics surrounding reproduction and fertility
• the role politics played in daily life
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
politics / ˈpɒl.ɪ.tɪks / / ˈpɑː.lə- / noun
B1 [ U ] the activities of the government, members of law-making organizations, or people who try to influence the way a country is governed:
Joe is very active in left-wing politics.
[ U ] the job of holding a position of power in the government:
The group is campaigning to get more women into politics.
He is planning to retire from politics next year.
[ U ] the study of the ways in which a country is governed:
She read politics at Leicester University.
sb's politics someone's opinions about how a country should be governed:
Her politics have become more liberal over the past few years.
[ plural ] the relationships within a group or organization that allow particular people to have power over others:
I don't like to get involved in office politics.
Word partners for politics
enter / go into / be involved in politics • discuss / talk politics • local / national / regional politics
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
politics
/pɒlɪtɪks/
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Politics are the actions or activities concerned with achieving and using power in a country or society. The verb that follows politics may be either singular or plural.
The key question in British politics was how long the prime minister could survive...
The film takes no position on the politics of Northern Ireland...
Politics is by no means the only arena in which women are excelling.
N-PLURAL
see also party politics
2.
Your politics are your beliefs about how a country ought to be governed.
My politics are well to the left of centre.
N-PLURAL: usu with poss
3.
Politics is the study of the ways in which countries are governed.
He began studying politics and medieval history.
...young politics graduates.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
Politics can be used to talk about the ways that power is shared in an organization and the ways it is affected by personal relationships between people who work together. The verb that follows politics may be either singular or plural.
You need to understand how office politics influence the working environment.
N-PLURAL
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
politics
pol·i·tics /ˈpɑːləˌtɪks/ noun
1 [noncount] : activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in a government
• He is an important figure in American politics.
• The students discussed the latest news in national/local politics.
• Politics has always interested her. = She's always been interested in politics.
- often used with a plural verb
• Politics have always interested her.
• He talked about the ways in which global politics are changing.
• The mayor's politics [=the political decisions the mayor made] were often criticized during her time in office.
- see also party politics, power politics
2 [noncount] : the work or job of people (such as elected officials) who are part of a government
• Politics is a competitive profession.
• She plans on going into politics. = She plans on entering politics. [=she plans on getting a job that involves politics]
3 [plural] : the opinions that someone has about what should be done by governments : a person's political thoughts and opinions
• She has changed her politics.
• His politics are very liberal/conservative. [=he believes that governments should be liberal/conservative]
4 [noncount] often disapproving : the activities, attitudes, or behaviors that are used to get or keep power or an advantage within a group, organization, etc.
• I don't want to get involved in office politics.
• She wrote a book about sexual politics [=the way men and women deal with and behave toward each other] in the academic world.
5 [noncount] chiefly Brit : political science
• a degree in politics
play politics disapproving : to say or do things for political reasons instead of doing what is right or what is best for other people
• She's been accused of playing politics with the investigation.
• Legislators need to stop playing politics with our future.
