politic Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness
- it is neither polite nor politic to get into other people's quarrels
- a politic decision
- a politic manager
- a politic old scoundrel
- a shrewd and politic reply
adjective satellite smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication
bland; suave; smooth.
- he was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage
- the manager pacified the customer with a smooth apology for the error

L. politicus political, Gr. belonging to the citizens or to the state, fr. citizen: cf. F. politique. See Police, and cf. ePolitical.

Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government; political; as, the body politic. See under Body.
He with his people made all but one politic body. Sir P. Sidney.
Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; -- said of things; as, a politic treaty. "Enrich'd with politic grave counsel." Shak.
Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; -- said of persons.
Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy. Shak.
Syn. -- Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary; artful; cunning.

A politician. Archaic Bacon.
Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars. Lowell.