impolitic

English

Alternative forms

• impolitick (obsolete)

Etymology

From im- +‎ politic.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpɒ.lɪ.tɪk/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

impolitic (comparative more impolitic, superlative most impolitic)

1. Not in accordance with good policy.

   Synonyms: unwise, inexpedient, unadvisable

   • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 210:

     Even when it was impolitic to admire, let alone name, Evagrius, his descriptions of progress in the spiritual life could not be and were not ignored […] .

   • 2024 November 8, Ross Douthat, “How Democrats Helped Trump”, in The New York Times‎^[1], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     And thereafter it became impolitic to say anything critical about the Harris sprint.

     (Can we archive this URL?)

Translations

not in accordance with good policy

• Bulgarian: нетактичен (bg) (netaktičen)
• Dutch: onpolitiek, onverstandig (nl), onoordeelkundig (nl)
• Manx: anchreeney

References

• “impolitic”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “impolitic”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.