Politico
/pəˈlɪtɪkoʊ/
Definitions
A person who is involved in politics, typically a politician.
/pəˈlɪtɪkoʊ/
A person involved in politics, especially a professional one.
The politico was known for his controversial policies.
💡 Simply: A politico is someone who works in politics, like a mayor or a senator. They're often making decisions about how things run in a town or a country. It's like calling them a 'politics person'.
👶 For kids: A politico is like a grown-up who helps run a country or city, like a mayor or a president.
More Examples
She's a savvy politico, skilled at navigating the complexities of Washington.
The local politico faced criticism for his handling of the budget.
The press loves to cover the actions of a well-known politico.
How It's Used
"The politico's speech was met with a mixed reaction."
"He's a real politico, always maneuvering for advantage."
From Italian *politico*, meaning 'political', derived from Greek *politikós* ('of citizens, civil').
The term 'politico' gained popularity in the mid-20th century, often used in journalistic contexts to refer to politicians, especially in informal writing.
Memory tip
Think of 'political' and 'person' – a POLITICO is a political PERSON.