politicaster

P3O1L1I1T1I1C3A1S1T1E1R1

noun

A petty politician.

Scrabble 16

Meanings

nounpoliticaster (plural politicasters)

plural politicasters

  1. A petty politician.

    The politicaster is looking for small opportunities – for such pickings and stealings as a careless public may leave for those of his kind. The great politician is looking for great opportunities.

    2004 January 5, Samuel McChord Crothers, “In Praise of Politicians”, in The Wall Street Journal, New York
    1 more example

    And for the Diſcipline propounded, ſeeing that it hath bin inevitably prov’d that the natural and fundamental cauſes of political Happineſs in all Governments are the ſame, and that this Church-diſcipline is taught in the Word of God, and, as we ſee, agrees according to wiſh with all ſuch States as have receiv’d it, we may infallibly aſſure our ſelves that it will as well agree with Monarchy, though all the Tribe of Aphoriſmers and Politicaſters would perſwade us there be ſecret and myſterious reaſons againſt it.

    1641, John Milton, Of Reformation of Church-Discipline in England

Origin

  1. Italianpoliticastro
  2. Englishpoliticaster

From Italian politicastro, from politico + -astro (“diminutive suffix”), equivalent to English politic(ian) + -aster.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with politicaster

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

politicaster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/politicaster

MLA

“politicaster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/politicaster. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “politicaster,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/politicaster.

Source: politicaster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.