(countable, idiomatic) A contentious political issue or problem that is often debated or discussed, but that remains unresolved; an issue or problem which is avoided by authorities and handed off to others.

(idiomatic) A social scenario in which all participants are aware of a truth, but pretend to believe in some alternative version of events to avoid conflict or embarrassment.

(economics, politics) Interdisciplinary studies drawing upon economics, law, and political science in explaining how political institutions, the political environment, and the economic system — capitalist, socialist, mixed, and so on — influence each other.

Excessively polite.

(politics) Politics focusing on the self-interest and perspectives of people in various groupings, such as ethnicity, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation.

a person driven by political motives

One who studies political economy.

The political strategy of engaging with small groups of individuals in face-to-face interactions.

(now archaic or historical) The demographic statistics of a country or state.

plural of political spectrum