Basic Details
Word: Politic
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Wise and sensible in a particular situation, especially in a way that avoids trouble. It is a formal word.
Synonyms: prudent, wise, sensible, tactful
Antonyms: unwise, reckless, rash
How to Spell Politic
Syllables: pol - i - tic
Tricky part: It ends in a plain c with no k, and it has only one l. The stress is on the first syllable: POL-i-tic.
Watch out for: pollitic, politik, poletic
Memory tip: Politic is politics without its final s. Cover the s and you have the whole word, ending in a single c.
Usage Examples
Example 1: It seemed politic to stay quiet while the coach was angry.
Example 2: The minister made a politic decision to delay the announcement until after the festival.
Example 3: Raju thought it politic to apologise before his sister told their parents.
Fun Fact
The phrase the body politic means all the people of a country thought of as one group, under one government.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word politic as it is used in the sentence:
It was not politic to argue with the umpire in front of the whole crowd.
a) honest
b) prudent
c) polite
d) reckless
Show answer
b) prudent. Politic means wise in the situation; polite only looks similar, and reckless is the opposite.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. senat 2. minester 3. ellection 4. politic
a) a group of people who make laws
b) a member of a government who heads a department
c) wise and sensible in the situation
d) choosing people for an office by voting
Show answer
c) wise and sensible in the situation. Senate ends in a silent e, minister has an i in the middle, and election needs one l only.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
p_l_tic
a) o, o
b) o, i
c) o, e
d) a, i
Show answer
b) o, i. Say POL-i-tic: the short o comes first and the i follows the l.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A politic choice is one that is ____.
a) loud and dramatic
b) made by a politician
c) made without thinking
d) wise in the circumstances
Show answer
d) wise in the circumstances
2. Which word is opposite in meaning to politic?
a) tactful
b) careful
c) sensible
d) unwise
Show answer
d) unwise
