politische

Politische is a German adjective meaning political or related to politics and government. It is used to describe nouns within the political sphere, such as ideas, institutions, actors, and processes. The word is formed from the noun Politik plus the suffix -isch, and it has cognates in other Germanic languages (for example Dutch politieke) and in English (political).

In German, adjectives decline and take different endings depending on gender, number, case, and the presence of articles. Examples include die politische Partei (feminine singular, nominative/accusative with a definite article), das politische System (neuter singular, nominative/accusative with a definite article), eine politische Partei (feminine singular, indefinite article), politische Reformen (plural without an article). With a definite article in the plural, the form is die politischen Parteien.

Common uses cover a wide range of topics: politische Bildung (political education), politische Debatte (political debate), politische Ideologie (political ideology), politische Reformen, politische Macht, and politische Institutionen. The term appears in journalism, academic writing, and public discourse to label matters connected to governance, policy, or political life, as distinct from nonpolitical or apolitical subjects.

See also terms related to the field, such as Politik (politics), Politikwissenschaft (political science), politische Kultur (political culture), and politische Ökonomie (political economy). While politische serves primarily as an adjective, it commonly appears in compound nouns and fixed expressions that emphasize the political dimension of a subject.