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body politic — A nation, state, or organized group of people considered as a single political unit, often metaphorically compared to a human body.

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: A nation, state, or organized group of people considered as a single political unit, often metaphorically compared to a human body.

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbɑːdi pəˈlɪtɪk/

Example Sentences

  • The scandal sent shockwaves through the entire body politic.
  • Doctor, I think the body politic has a fever — there are just too many hot-headed politicians running around!
  • Historians argue that unchecked corruption is like a slow poison to the body politic.

body politic

NOUN

[/ˈbɑːdi pəˈlɪtɪk/]

A nation, state, or organized group of people considered as a single political unit, often metaphorically compared to a human body.

Citizens gather in the town square, forming the body politic that shapes their nation's future.
💡 Concept

Citizens gather in the town square, forming the body politic that shapes their nation's future.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈbɑːdi pəˈlɪtɪk/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈbɒdi pəˈlɪtɪk/

🌳Etymology

Rootpolit-
Suffix--ic

Origin

From the medieval political metaphor comparing a state to a human body, with the monarch as the 'head' and citizens as the 'limbs'; 'politic' comes from Latin politicus, from Greek politikos (of citizens).

Breakdown

body (physical/organic whole) + politic (adjective form, 'of the state or citizens') = a nation viewed as one living organism

🎵Rhyme

critic
mystic
cosmetic

🔗Collocations

the body politic of a nation
a healthy body politic
corruption within the body politic
heal the body politic
unite the body politic
the whole body politic
a disease in the body politic

📝Examples

“The scandal sent shockwaves through the entire body politic.”

😄 Fun example

“Doctor, I think the body politic has a fever — there are just too many hot-headed politicians running around!”

“Historians argue that unchecked corruption is like a slow poison to the body politic.”

“Students compared the body politic to a human body, with laws acting as its nervous system.”

📚Related Words

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