impolitic
UK: ɪmˈpɒlɪtɪk | US: ɪmˈpɑːlɪtɪk
adj. not wise or judicious; lacking political sensitivity or practicality
impolitic = im<not> + politic<wise or shrewd in governance>
- im: A prefix derived from Latin in-, meaning "not" or "opposite of."
- politic: From Latin politicus (relating to public affairs) and Greek politikos (of citizens or the state), originally meaning "skilled in governance."
Etymology Origin:
The word "impolitic" emerged in the late 16th century, combining the negative prefix im- with politic, which originally described shrewdness in statecraft. Over time, politic broadened to mean "prudent" in general, while impolitic retained its focus on poor judgment, especially in public or strategic contexts. The pairing reflects a direct contrast—where politic implies wisdom, impolitic underscores its absence.
His impolitic remarks during the debate cost him the election.
It would be impolitic to ignore the concerns of such a large voter base.
The minister’s impolitic decision sparked widespread criticism.
She avoided impolitic alliances that could harm her reputation.
The CEO’s impolitic handling of the crisis led to a drop in stock prices.