politic, political

The normal adjective in general meanings is political. Apart from its use in the fixed expression body politic, politic is confined to the meaning 'judicious, expedient' (with reference to an action) and 'prudent, sagacious' (with reference to a person) and is normally used after a verb (such as be) rather than attributively (before a noun). The corresponding adverbs are politicly (from politic, but not often needed) and politically (from political). Politic is also found as a verb meaning 'to engage in politics' (usually with disparaging overtones), and its inflected forms are politicked, politicking.

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