Make Your Point > Archived Issues > IMPOLITIC

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explore the archives: Today's "impolitic" is one of those tricky words that doesn't mean what you'd guess. Another is "gelid." It doesn't mean "gel-like" or "like Jello." Could you recall the correct definition of "gelid"? make your point with... "IMPOLITIC" Politic things and people are sensible, shrewd, and wise. So, something impolitic is not sensible, not wise, and not helpful for accomplishing whatever the goal is. Pronunciation: im PALL it ick Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "impolitic comments." 2. After a linking verb, as in "Their comments were impolitic.") Other forms: You can use "impoliticness" and "impolitically," but I don't recommend them; they sound clunky. How to use it, and why it looks like "politics:" You might guess that "impolitic" means "having nothing to do with politics." Actually, that's what "apolitical" means. The same Middle French word that meant "related to government" also meant "judicious, sensible," which is why "politic" and "impolitic" look so much like the word "politics." So although impolitic actions and statements may very well involve politics (public affairs, government, power), we aren't limited to applying "impolitic" to political situations. You can talk about any social situation when you describe impolitic statements, impolitic displays of emotion, and impolitic choices and courses of action. While it's usually just behavior and speech that you call "impolitic," you might also call a person impolitic: "She's impolitic enough to make unreasonable demands." We often use "impolitic" to talk about what we won't do or say: "It would be impolitic to do this," "It would be impolitic to reveal your anger now," "It's impolitic to worry about what you can't change." examples: You could feasibly maintain your dignity when you ask why you weren't offered a job after an interview, as long as you frame the question as a polite request for constructive criticism. But it's probably impolitic to do the same after being turned down for a date. My client's request was simple but unusual; I figured it would be impolitic to refuse it. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "impolitic" means when you can explain it without saying "not a good policy" or "unsuitable for what you're trying to accomplish." try it out: Think of the last time when, in a social situation, you stopped yourself from doing or saying something when you realized it wouldn't do any good, and fill in the blanks: "When _____, it would have been impolitic for me to _____." Example: "When a nice lady commented to me that my little girl was 'so calm, like all girls are,' it would have been impolitic for me to mention my distaste for the confirmation bias." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. When it comes to word roots, everybody knows what some of them mean, like “ambi/amphi” (“both”) and “circum” (“around”) and “hetero” (“different”). This knowledge helps you explain why words like “automobile” and “autobiography” look similar—in this case, it’s because they both involve the concept of “self.” But what about some of the less obvious roots? Could you explain, for example, why “contain” looks so much like “sustain” by defining “tain”? This month, we're exploring the meanings underlying common words you know. You can usually figure these out by looking for an extremely basic concept common to all the words in each group. We’ll start with easier, more obvious roots and move on to trickier ones as the month goes on! Yesterday's question:  In amends, amendment, emend, mendicant, and mendacious, what does “mend” mean?  Answer: A fault.  Try this one today:  In accomplice, complicate, duplicate, explicate, explicit, and implicate, what does “plic” mean?   review today's word: 1. One opposite of IMPOLITIC is A. KIND B. PRUDENT C. STRAIGHTFORWARD 2.  Critics kept their comments _____, _____ to say something impolitic. A. civil .. eager B. focused .. aiming C. brief .. afraid Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. C