Important Definitions

Webster's Dictionary definitions:

pol·i·tics:

Pronunciation:

\ˈpä-lə-ˌtiks\

Function:

noun plural but singular or plural in construction

Etymology:

Greek politika, from neuter plural of politikos political

Date:

circa 1529

1 a: the art or science of government b: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy c: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government2: political actions, practices, or policies3 a: political affairs or business ; especially : competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government) b: political life especially as a principal activity or profession c: political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices4: the political opinions or sympathies of a person5 a: the total complex of relations between people living in society b: relations or conduct in a particular area of experience especially as seen or dealt with from a political point of view politics> politics>

gov·ern·ment

Pronunciation:

\ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt, -və-mənt; ˈgə-b^əm-ənt, -v^əm-\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Date:

14th century

1: the act or process of governing ; specifically : authoritative direction or control2obsolete : moral conduct or behavior : discretion3 a: the office, authority, or function of governing bobsolete : the term during which a governing official holds office4: the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit : rule5 a: the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it b: the complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out6: the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: as a: the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency bcapitalized : the executive branch of the United States federal government ccapitalized : a small group of persons holding simultaneously the principal political executive offices of a nation or other political unit and being responsible for the direction and supervision of public affairs: (1): such a group in a parliamentary system constituted by the cabinet or by the ministry (2): administration 4b 7: political science

¹con·ser·va·tive

Pronunciation:

\kən-ˈsər-və-tiv\

Function:

adjective

Date:

14th century

1: preservative2 a: of or relating to a philosophy of conservatism bcapitalized : of or constituting a political party professing the principles of conservatism: as (1): of or constituting a party of the United Kingdom advocating support of established institutions (2): progressive conservative 3 a: tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional b: marked by moderation or caution conservative estimate> c: marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners 4: of, relating to, or practicing Conservative Judaism

— con·ser·va·tive·ly adverb

— con·ser·va·tive·ness noun

¹lib·er·al

Pronunciation:

\ˈli-b(ə-)rəl\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lēodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free

Date:

14th century

1 a: of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts <liberal education> barchaic : of or befitting a man of free birth2 a: marked by generosity : openhanded liberal giver> b: given or provided in a generous and openhanded way liberal meal> c: ample , full3obsolete : lacking moral restraint : licentious4: not literal or strict : loose liberal translation>5: broad-minded ; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms6 a: of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism bcapitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism ; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives

— lib·er·al·ly \-b(ə-)rə-lē\ adverb

— lib·er·al·ness noun

synonyms liberal , generous , bountiful , munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly. liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given liberal with her praise>. generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift generous offer of help>. bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing bountiful presents>. munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes munificent foundation grant>.

fas·cism

Pronunciation:

\ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm also ˈfa-ˌsi-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces

Date:

1921

1often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control fascism and brutality — J. W. Aldridge>

— fas·cist \-shist also -sist\ noun or adjective often capitalized

— fas·cis·tic \fa-ˈshis-tik also -ˈsis-\ adjective often capitalized

— fas·cis·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb often capitalized

so·cial·ism

Pronunciation:

\ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\

Function:

noun

Date:

1837

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

Marx·ism

Pronunciation:

\ˈmärk-ˌsi-zəm\

Function:

noun

Date:

1887

: the political, economic, and social principles and policies advocated by Marx ; especially : a theory and practice of socialism including the labor theory of value, dialectical materialism, the class struggle, and dictatorship of the proletariat until the establishment of a classless society

— Marx·ist \-sist\ noun or adjective

com·mu·nism

Pronunciation:

\ˈkäm-yə-ˌni-zəm, -yü-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French communisme, from commun common

Date:

1840

1 a: a theory advocating elimination of private property b: a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed2capitalized a: a doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics b: a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production c: a final stage of society in Marxist theory in which the state has withered away and economic goods are distributed equitably d: communist systems collectively

cap·i·tal·ism

Pronunciation:

\ˈka-pə-tə-ˌliz-əm, ˈkap-tə-, British also kə-ˈpi-tə-\

Function:

noun

Date:

1877

: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market

free market

Function:

noun

Date:

1897

: an economic market operating by free competition