político

Político is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese with two related senses. As an adjective, it denotes things connected with politics, governance, or public policy, such as asuntos políticos or vida política. As a noun, it refers to a person who acts in the political sphere—a politician. In Spanish, the masculine form for a person is político, and the feminine form política is used according to gender; in Portuguese, the forms are político (masc.) and política (fem.). The word also appears in compounds like partido político (political party) or vida política (political life). The term derives from Latin politicus, itself from Greek politikos, from polis (city) and techne (craft).

In modern usage, político commonly denotes individuals who hold or aspire to public office, influence policy, or represent constituents, and it is often employed in analysis of political systems, campaigns, governance, and public policy. As an adjective, it describes matters connected to policy, elections, or governance, and it can carry neutral or evaluative connotations depending on context. The concept encompasses a broad range of roles including elected representatives, government officials, party strategists, and civil society actors involved in political processes. The word is widely used across Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking media, academia, and public discourse, and appears in compounds such as partido político, sistema político, or debate político.