politicized
UK: pəˈlɪtɪsaɪzd | US: pəˈlɪtɪsaɪzd
vt. to make something political in nature or character
adj. (less common) having been influenced by political motives
The word "politicized" derives from the root "politic," which traces back to the Greek "polis" (city, state), reflecting governance or public affairs. The suffix "-ize" (from Greek "-izein") transforms nouns into verbs meaning "to make or cause to be." The addition of "-ed" indicates the past participle form, implying an action completed in the past. The term evolved to describe the process of injecting political bias or context into neutral subjects, often with a negative connotation of manipulation.
The debate became politicized when candidates turned it into a partisan issue.
Scientific research should not be politicized to fit ideological agendas.
The media has politicized the pandemic, creating unnecessary division.
Historically neutral institutions are increasingly politicized today.
Critics accused the government of politicizing the judicial process.