politikoi

politikoi (Greek: πολιτικοί) is a term from ancient Greek that can be rendered in English as "the political [men]" or "politicians." It also functions as an adjective politikós, meaning "political" or "civic," "of the polis." The noun πολιτικοί typically refers to those who participate in public life and public policy—politicians, statesmen, or other officeholders who engage in governance and decision making. The concept is closely tied to the polis, the city-state, and to civic life; thus the term carries connotations of public duty and policy rather than private or military matters alone.

In classical Greek literature, politikoi appears in discussions of governance, legislation, diplomacy, and public debate. The English term politics and the modern word politician trace their lineage to this Greek root through Latin and French. In contemporary English, politikoi is rarely used outside scholarly discussions of ancient political thought, where it is employed to categorize actors within the political sphere of the Greek world. The term thus provides a window into how ancient Greeks differentiated public life and policy from other spheres of activity, such as warfare or religion, within the framework of the polis.