depoliticize

verb

de·​po·​lit·​i·​cize ˌdē-pə-ˈli-tə-ˌsīz How to pronounce depoliticize (audio)
depoliticized; depoliticizing; depoliticizes

transitive verb

: to remove the political character of : take out of the realm of politics
depoliticize foreign aid
depoliticization
ˌdē-pə-ˌli-tə-sə-ˈzä-shən How to pronounce depoliticize (audio)
noun

Examples of depoliticize in a Sentence

She says we need to depoliticize the process by which judges are chosen. The humanitarian aid groups want to see foreign aid depoliticized.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Republicans cast the change as a way to depoliticize local offices. — Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026 Instead of trying to depoliticize their field, a swell of scientists want to become politicians. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025 But the power and willingness of parties outside the mainstream to place new, previously depoliticized topics on the agenda—and to create new challenges for established parties—should not be underestimated. — Markus Wagner, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2018 This is part of my vow to depoliticize the position and to redirect the office from a political battleground to a public safety institution that focuses on community, safety, and integrity. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for depoliticize

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of depoliticize was in 1937

Rhymes for depoliticize

See All Rhymes for depoliticize

Browse Nearby Words

depolish
depoliticize
depollute
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Depoliticize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depoliticize. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on depoliticize

Nglish: Translation of depoliticize for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All